EFHR condemns the detention of filmmaker Omar Marai, considering it a continuation of the practice of using pretrial detention and politically motivated charges to punish individuals for their opinions or peaceful expression. It also calls for his immediate release and for an investigation into the violations that accompanied his arrest.
The Front had documented the decision by the Supreme State Security Prosecution, on Saturday, 16 May 2026, to detain Omar Salah Marai for 15 days pending investigations in Case No. 3835 of 2026 (Supreme State Security Case), following charges of “joining a terrorist group” and “deliberately spreading false news and statements inside the country,” in connection with several posts he published on social media.
Security forces had arrested Omar Salah Marai on 11 May 2026 from his home in the Sarayat El Maadi district and taken him to an unknown location. According to his family, the apartment was vandalized and money and electronic devices were taken during the arrest. His family also reported that the Maadi police station initially denied his presence, before he was subjected to enforced disappearance for five days, until he later appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution for questioning. This occurred despite his family submitting several official complaints to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Interior, and the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme State Security Prosecution, requesting disclosure of his whereabouts and enabling him to communicate with his family and lawyer.