For two years and nine months, the Egyptian authorities continued to arbitrarily arrest the environmental expert, Ahmed Abdel Latif Al-Khouli (68 years), by putting him in case No. 1358/2019, in which he is accused of leading a terrorist group. However, he is in a leadership position in the Independence party (AL-Istiklal), Which published on September 24 a solidarity statement on the demonstrations that erupted on September 20, 2019. This statement caused to arrest of at least 23 people, including leaders and members of this Party.
Prof. Ahmed Abdel Latif was arrested from his home in the Haram area in Giza Governorate on September 24, 2019, by security forces in civilian clothes. And took him to the NSA headquarters in the Abbasiya area in central Cairo, where he was interrogated about the Independence Party’s statement; then, he was detained inside this headquarters for more than a week until appearing before the prosecution on October 5, 2019.
Despite the release of several defendants in the case, such as Naglaa Al-Qalyubi and Magdy Qarqar, Prof. Abdel Latif is still detained so far, and TCC automatically renews his detention. It is worth noting that Prof. Ahmed Abdel Latif suffers from diabetes and pressure due to his advanced age, making him need to take medications and constantly conduct medical examinations.
Ahmed Abdel-Latif Ahmed El-Khouly is a professor in the Department of Environmental Planning, Faculty of Urban Planning, Cairo University, and a professor of environment at the Desert Research Center and Vice President of the Center. He also worked as an environmental expert at the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, affiliated with the LAS, as well as he also was Egypt’s representative in the Intergovernmental Forum on Science and Policy in the field of environmental diversity and ecosystem services (IPES) since 2015, and a certified consultant for environmental impact assessment studies.