Arrest of Donia Samir and Sherine Shawky for Joining a Terrorist Group and Spreading False News
Two women appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on Saturday and Sunday, 28-29 May 2022. They are:
Ms. Donia Samir Fathy Al Desouky
Ms. Sherine Shawky Mohamed Mahmoud
Pending case No. 440 of 2022 Supreme State Security.
First: Ms. Donia Samir
Ms. Donia Samir Fathi Al Desouky is a tour guide, aged 40, divorced and mother of 4 children.
During the past month, Ms. Donia appeared in a video on “Facebook” complaining that the governor of South Sinai, according to the video, persuaded her to be in a relationship with him.
She and her four children were arrested, once she announced her rejection. The woman remained in detention at Sharm Al Sheikh Police Station for 6 days. She was released without being investigated or included in a case.
Donia continued to suffer persistent harassment from the South Sinai governor even after leaving the station. The police officer who testified in her favor was dismissed. Donia was no longer able to remain silent, so she posted the video that caused her arrest.
Ms Donia was arrested on 28 May 2022 for posting the previously mentioned video on her personal page on “facebook”. She appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution the following day, on 29 May 2022, convicted of joining a terrorist group and spreading false news. The prosecution ordered her imprisonment for 15 days pending investigations in case No. 440 of 2022.
Second: Ms. Shirine Shawky
Ms. Shawky Mohamed Mahmoud is a media graduate, 35-year-old journalist of the Rafidain Channel, married and mother of a deceased child.
Ms. Sherrin was subjected several harassment by an officer of the Ministry of Interior who, according to her livestream, sent sexual pictures despite knowing that she was a married woman.
The woman announced her rejection of such acts, but he had threatened to kill her and her husband. On May 25th, 2022, she decided to document what was happening via her livestream on “Facebook”, in which she pleaded with President Abd Al Fattah Al Sisi to intervene and resolve the matter. This video led to her and her husband’s arrest the following day from being published.
Ms. Shirine and her husband Mohammed Sabri were arrested on May 26th, 2022, in the backdrop of the stated-above livestream that she posted on her personal Facebook account.
Two days later, on 28 May 2022, she appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution pending case No. 440 of 2022 Supreme State Security. The prosecution charged her mainly with: Spreading false news. Later, the Supreme State Security Prosecution ordered her imprisonment for 15 days pending investigations.
