Free Droubi!

Ahmed El Droubi Released

2006-05-26T14:40:00.000+03:00

Free Droubi is pleased to report that Ahmed Yasser El Droubi has been released today after being detained for 33 days.

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Free Droubi would like to thank all Friends that have contributed through art work, first-hand accounts, statements, information or otherwise in the quest to Free Ahmed.

Ahmed El Droubi continues his Message

2006-05-25T15:29:00.000+03:00

The following is the text of a message sent by Ahmed El Droubi, during his detainment. The message is dated 23rd May 2006:

Time; seems so very valuable, all that that has been lost, yet seems equally worthless as at times it seems to pass ever so slowly. Every minute drilling frustration into my spirit as I remain locked in a box. The concept of being so helpless, unable to even stand up and walk out of the "room" is simply frustrating.I [have] reached a level of acceptance. Not thinking about what I'm missing or the simple things like picking up the phone and talking, like sitting down on a chair, like the choice not to leave your home and walking in the street.

It gives me patience to think that my loved ones and my friends think of me as I think of them. Knowing that at least one or two are doing all that is in their power to help me, or to phrase [it] better , to support me. The fact that I know that I am not alone, that I pass, as a thought at least, [through] the minds of my friends provides a warmth and provides me with a sense of being [a] part of something.

I know I'm not thinking straight, it's pretty easy to tell; as I am not even writing straight: so I am going to try to rewrite the ideas that I had written at an earlier phase a few days after I was arrested (and lost). Actually all the bullshit I've already written about loved ones and friends was part of what I lost.

I met a fellow prisoner in the Khalifa police startion while I was there. This story aims to illustrate the source of my patience (essential to my survival) in the earlier days of my imprisonment; and I have to admit that I am not sure of the story's influence on my morale in the later stages.

Anyhow, this colleague (fellow captive) was awaiting release after finishing a 10 year sentence. A conversation developed between us the night that we found out that we were to be detained for 15 days. The news arrived (pretty much expected), but recieved very dramatic responses from several of my fellow detainees. Some reached the extent of tears, wailing and [being] quite depressed. The fact that I am as usually only saw the irony in the situation and broke out into laughter and maintained a smile of "Oh Well".

Later that evening the conversation with my Sudanese friend (the guy who was completing a 10 year sentence) whose name... was Ali, started up. Allow me to go on a little about his background. He was a Sudanease immigrant to Egypt, not much of an education, if I recall correctly he did not complete secondary school. Yet he was very well read( he had nothing else to do for 10 years), he was a big fan of revolutionary movements around the world and was a great admirer of Che and Ghandi.

Anyhow he discussed with me the meaning of being a مناضل (I've been trying to translate the word to English but haven't found one that satisfies the meaning). He told me he thought from our conversations in the cell over the last two days and my actions that i am a مناضل (I'll translate it to activist for now) . He said that I seemed to accept the sentence we had received though I was aware of its injustice.

He said that he did not comprehend the response of many of the individuals that were arrested with me. He said "how could you be a true activist, without thinking through and considering the possible outcome of yur actions?" Wasn't the situation that we were in a possibility all along?! He said one of the greatest and most important attributes of an "activist" was sacrifice, that imprisonment or any other consequence should be considered and the "activist" should be aware of it as a possibility and have been willing to take the chance therefore making the choice before taking any step.

Our conversation developed and at one point he asked me if i had any regrets; my response was that I had one: the anguish that I would cause my parents. Ali dismissed this regret. He said to me that I was an "activist" that my sacrifice was for them. More importantly he said that as an "activist" my family isn't my immediate family, that my family consists of 70 million people, that my arrest and any hardship I go through will sadden the hearts of all Egyptian mothers, all Arab mothers and of humanity in its essence. He described an "activist" as being part of something, he placed context to our sacrifice and he put the essence of our goals.

I don't know if i can feel what he said, I can't say what he said is not true or that it's in anyway realistic but at times for a few minutes I feel a lost better looking at it this way, because on some level I do hope it is true and even maybe even believe it.

One thing I did learn in prison is that what you live by and believe in and what you can identify as the case, can be completely different things.

Ahmed El Droubi

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The unedited text of the letter can be found on Salma's Blog.

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As always, Free Droubi would like to thank all Friends that have contributed through art work, first-hand accounts, statements, information or otherwise. Free Droubi welcomes any endeavour in the campaign to release Ahmed Yasser El Droubi and all other detainees of the Egyptian State Security.

Free Droubi T-Shirts available

2006-05-24T10:07:00.000+03:00

Free Droubi would like to inform all those interested that Free Droubi T-Shirts are now available (in different sizes and at cost price).

Regretfully, we currently have no way to get those T-shirts to those outside of Egypt, or even Cairo. For more information on obtaining these T-Shirts, please contact us at:

freedroubi (AT) yahoo (DOT) com

Free Droubi's contact email is always available on the sidebar to the right.

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As always, Free Droubi would like to thank all Friends that have contributed through art work, first-hand accounts, statements, information or otherwise. Free Droubi welcomes any endeavour in the campaign to release Ahmed Yasser El Droubi and all other detainees of the Egyptian State Security.

Rumours of Droubi's release

2006-05-23T22:43:00.000+03:00

Free Droubi has discovered that there are rumours circulating that speak of the release of Ahmed El Droubi. These rumours, to our knowledge, began this afternoon and were recieved from two independent sources.

Sadly, these sources were not ones seen as reliable (from previous experiences dealing with their information) but they did confirm the details independantly. More on this as we are updated.

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As always, Free Droubi would like to thank all Friends that have contributed through art work, first-hand accounts, statements, information or otherwise. Free Droubi welcomes any endeavour in the campaign to release Ahmed Yasser El Droubi and all other detainees of the Egyptian State Security.

Words from Ahmed El Droubi

2006-05-22T10:43:00.000+03:00

The following is the text of a letter written by Ahmed El Droubi, during his detainment. The letter is dated 20th May 2006.

Here I sit at the beginning of my 3rd round of fifteen days in prison; my thoughts lingering between the principles that I stand for which brought me here, and the life that was mine and which I left behind. I try not to think too much about the pain my arrest created in the hearts of loved ones, my parents in particular, who have suffered the most from this ordeal. The thought of my mother weeping, and worst of all the tears I see in my father’s eyes as he forces a smile on his face during their weekly visit, is far more painful than anything I have ever experienced. My fear for them supercedes the pain and panic of my arrest: when I was simply kidnapped from the street, lifted from the ground by thugs, my feet in the air, my face few centimeters from the asphalt, while those (a dozen) carrying me away pushing and punching and swearing at me before starting to search me, blindfold me, tie my hands behind my back, finally dumping me into a security truck.

Then, all I could hear was the cries of pain from others being dragged, and the constant threats and swearing by the security forces. There was such an extraordinary tone of hate and resentment in their voices. The fear of physical pain and the idea of having no control over anything and the desperate attempt to control one’s own thoughts were things I could have never imagined before. I had no idea who or what was around me, and any attempt to move or speak would bring an onslaught of shapes, mental threats and humiliation. Thankfully my greatest worry at that time was relieved, when for a period of five minutes no security forces were present inside the truck (they seemed to be receiving orders from their superiors) allowing a man who was crying in pain very loudly to tell me that my friend was OK. It turned out later he was the judge whose presence among us increased the media coverage of our case. He told me she had found shelter in the Judges’ Club – a sense of relief overwhelmed me. The wailing judge after making his identity clear was removed from the truck. Those of us remaining in the truck were tied and blindfolded again: my belt initially used to tie my hands was replaced by thick rough rope; my Jacket which had covered my eyes was replaced with a piece of cloth and tape, then more cloth accompanied with rough handling of my body and a great deal of threats, swearing and intimidation. Interrogations went around in cycles, the same questions round and round again…….

Listening to a group of five individuals talk about methods of torture, slap a few of us around, threats, swearing and humiliation. This process of repeated questioning about our name, job, address and phone number could have been because of the lack of organization or incompetence from the state security. As I heard the names of my colleagues I recognized none until I heard the 7th name: Mohamed El Sharkawy, someone I knew and I could trust in an environment were I couldn’t trust anyone. Interrogator continued to mock all questioned but finding a friend gave a strong moral boost. After maybe our third or fourth stop and our sixth questioning, I was pulled up by strong arms and pulled out of the truck. I was guided to walk in a circle stopping at one point and then placed back in the truck, at that time I had no idea what was happening. Later I knew I was being identified. Sharkawy has been also taken out of the truck but for further interrogations. I could hear few sentences from my location inside. The voice told him that he was wanted for some crime in his home town; obviously a made up story in order to display and identify him.

We were kidnapped at around 2:30am. I loosened my blindfold seeing my knee and the side of the truck. Something I attempt to do subtly for sometime when sensing the lack of security personnel in the truck. By the time I could lift the blindfold slightly and see the floor beneath me, I could also hear the birds marking the lovely moments of day light. For sometime I had been feeling a piece of material with my feet hopping it was my jacket when I could eventually see that it was not my jacket but what it was brought a smile on my face; it was the remaining piece of a banner that we had, I read “liberated zone” “منطقة محررة".

Maybe it was the irony that made me smile or the memory of why I was here. Whatever it was, it made me feel better, it made me feel stronger.
By now the hope that we were to be let go had gone. I never imagined I would be here for that long yet I know nothing of my fate. We were then guided out of the truck. I sensed a difference in the method of treatment. The way I was being pushed around was different. Soon I distinguished from all I saw; shoes and white trousers. I realized I was in a police station. I was guided up stairs and down stairs. It felt like walking in circles. My thoughts jumped from a possibility to another. Does it mean I was being charged with something? Released? Dumped? Those were the questions going through my mind. I was held against a wall and searched. We were then put into a cell and left tied and blindfolded; the beginning of a new chapter of our ordeal.

I will continue writing about this experience tomorrow as the lights have just gone out."

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Additional Information on Salma's Blog.

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As always, Free Droubi would like to thank all Friends that have contributed through art work, first-hand accounts, statements, information or otherwise. Free Droubi welcomes any endeavour in the campaign to release Ahmed Yasser El Droubi and all other detainees of the Egyptian State Security.

Tags: Free Droubi Freedroubi Droubi Egypt Kifaya Kefaia Blog Egyptian Egyptian Politics

Detainees Incarcerated for 15 More Days.

2006-05-20T17:04:00.000+03:00

Free Droubi has learnt that the detention of those illegaly arrested on the 24th of April 2006, including Ahmed El Droubi, has been extended today for fifteen (15) by a State Security Prosecutor.

Also, information at Salma's Blog (arabic) indicates that another group of Detainees were also scheduled to come up before the State Security Prosecutor today. If so, then their detention has been extended for fifteen (15) days as well.

Free Droubi has learnt that eight (8) detainees were released today; a Mr. Mohamed Sharkawy a Mr. Ahmed Salah, because of his medical condition (he is asthmatic), and six (6) because of their status as students and the proximity of University examinations. Free Droubi wishes to note that Ahmed El Droubi is diabetic, a fact well-known to the authorities, and yet the Prosecutor ruled to continue his detention for another fifteen (15) days.

More information will be published as it is made available.

Latest Update on Ahmed El Droubi

2006-05-18T14:38:00.000+03:00

Free Droubi has found out that friends of Ahmed El Droubi have recieved a letter from him.

In the letter he assures them that he is doing well.

Ahmed also informs them that he does not regret the actions that led to his arrest and that he wishes he were free and able to participate in the current demonstrations and the fight for "what we believe in".

A portion of this letter, with more details, can be found at Salma's Blog. Free Droubi is not sure if the entry in Salma's Blog is a translation of the letter or if the letter was written in English.

Also, Manal at Manal and Alaa's bit bucket has compiled and gathered a list of letters from the detainees at Torah. (Most of the letters are in Arabic)

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As always, Free Droubi would like to thank all Friends that have contributed through art work, first-hand accounts, statements, information or otherwise. Free Droubi welcomes any endeavour in the campaign to release Ahmed Yasser El Droubi and all other detainees of the Egyptian State Security.

Update on Hunger Strike and Ahmed

2006-05-11T16:33:00.001+03:00

Free Droubi has just learnt, through a message sent by Ahmed El Droubi to his friends, that he is well. The prison administration are treating him and the remaining detainees much better than the had been since the Statment they released Sunday, May 7th (Statement in Arabic) and Ahmed now recieves his food and medication promptly and on time.

Free Droubi has also learnt that the Detainees have stopped the hunger strike they began one day before the release of their statement. It was not confirmed, beyond doubt, to Free Droubi whether the hunger strike was the reason behind the apparent shift in the prison administration's hardline position and treatment of the Detainees.

But, apparently, the hunger strike was ended because conditions had improved and because many of the Detainees were taxed physically and psychologoically by the strike. Free Droubi wishes to commend these brave patriots on an act that Free Droubi believes required tremendous courage and discipline.

Update: This just in. Free Droubi discovered that Salma has actually met with Ahmed. Here is her post.

Detainees and how to help.

2006-05-08T21:26:00.000+03:00

With the arrest of ten (10) other Egyptian Citizens on May 7th, including prominent Egyptian blogger and activist Alaa, of Manalaa.net, Egyptian bloggers and patriots have moved in an attempt to free the illegaly detained activists. The following are the relevant links that you can follow in order to take positive steps towards pressuring the Egyptian government into releasing all the Detainees.

Original Issue.

More background information (arabic).

Free Droubi on the issue (including Statement from the Detainees).

Manal and Alaa's Blog with steps to take.

Egyptian Sandmonkey's Post with templates for letters and additional information.

Al-Masry Al-Yoam on the issue (arabic).

Free Droubi asks all those who live outside, and inside, of Egypt follow the above links and take all possible steps and exert all possible effort for the release of the Detainees.

Detainees incarcerated for another Fifteen Days.

2006-05-08T14:46:00.000+03:00

Today, Ahmed Yasser El Droubi and the eleven detainees of Monday the 26th of April have had their incarceration period in prison extended for another fifteen (15) days.

Free Droubi has also learnt that the prison administration has begun to actively hassle and mistreat the detainees. Sources tell Free Droubi that this began about 3-4 days ago. The Detainees had their heads shaved, against their will, in addition to being placed in cells with convicted criminals (crimes related to drugs and murder) who possess weapons and have threatened the Detainees. More on this in the Detainees' Statement.

Alarmingly, the prison administration has also consistently delayed the process of delivering much-needed insulin, and food, to Ahmed El Droubi. As is medically known, such steps constitute a clear and obvious threat to Ahmed's life, considering his medical condition.

Free Droubi will attempt to publish more information on the issue as the information comes in.

Update on Detainee Hunger Strike

2006-05-07T16:22:00.000+03:00

It has come to Free Droubi's attention that The kidnapees at Tora have released a statement announcing that they will continue their hunger strike until the following demands, which they say are the least that can be given them in the way of basic human rights, are met. The following is an unofficial translation of their statement:

We, the kidnapped from in front of the Judges' Club and the Court of Cassation and Appeals and currently held in Mahkoom Tora prison, reiterate our complete support for the judges, Egypt's concience, in all of their demands. We condemn the Mubarak regime's continual oppression towards them, the extension of the state of emergency and the escallation of its repressive measures against reform movements.

Despite our willingness to pay this small price for the freedom of our people, we emphasize our upholding of our most basic rights, even as prisoners of war and hereby declare a hunger strike until the following demands are met:

1. An immediate investigation and inquiry is carried out concerning the State Security officers and plain-clothed thugs that brutally broke up the sit-in in addition to desecrating the Egyptian Flag... under direct orders from State Security Officer Waleed El-Desouki.

2. Questioning and interrogating State Security Officers that have attempted to murder sixteen (16) of the "kidnapped" [Detainees] by stuffing them, while restrained, in a sealed vehicle while turning off the vehicle's ventilation, after they had been questioned by State Security Prosecutors in Heliopolis. The kidnapees were kept in this state for six (6) full hours; from 9 p.m. Thursday 27th April until 3 a.m. Friday 28th April. The vehicle was left on a highway in the district of Tora. These Officers had full knowledge of the dangers, of their actions, to the kidnapees' lives.

3. Halting the life-threatening state that twenty-three (23) of the kidnapees are forced to endure in Tora Prison through their internment with inmates who have been convicted of criminal offences. We further demand an investigation into the Prison's Administration's ignoring of our officialcomplaint, dated 4/5/2006, on the widespread use and trade of drugs and "white" weapons (knives, blades and other weapons).

4. Questioning and investigating the State Security Officers that kidnapped the kidnapees from the streets of Cairo, particularly Walid El-Desouki, under the charge of stealing the kidnapees' personal possessions. These possessions include money, cellular phones and video-cameras. Also, the investigation and questioning of prison administrators under the charge of ignoring all complaints on the matter. This demonstrates that administration's total submission to State Security borders... which violate the articles of the Emergency Law, in addition to official prison codes, rules and regulations.

5. Allowing the kidnapees to pray in the mosque and allowing them access to newspapers and magazines as stipulated by prison codes, rules and regulations.

6. Investigating the threats made by State Security personnel, against the kidnapees, of violent torture... "as they do with the Islamic Groups".

7. Investigating the prison administration for bias towards rich and powerful prisoners. These prisoners are allowed to keep their cells open throughout the day and most of the night, without guard, while the poorer prisoners are constantly humiliated.

Signed,

The Kidnapees from the Judges' Club and the Court of Cassation and Appeals

The Original transcript obtained from Kifaya's website (arabic).

Also, some of The Detainees, Ahmed El Droubi included, were supposed to be brought up before the Bab el Khalk Court of Southern Cairo. But, amidst demonstrations and the arrest of 10 protestors (arabic), the Detainees were not brought to the court by the police. The police also asked the prosecutor to renew The Detainees arrest (in their absence), but were refused the request. The hearing has been delayed till tomorrow, Monday 8th May 2006.

Breaking News: Detainees on Hunger Strike

2006-05-06T16:38:00.000+03:00

The detainees at Tora Prison have released a statement proclaiming that they are now on a hunger strike.

Free Droubi has not been able to obtain a copy of the statement but is exerting all efforts to do so. The goals of the strike and its duration is unknown to Free Droubi at this point in time, but will be published as soon as found out.

Detainment of Ahmed - Update VII

2006-05-03T01:43:00.000+03:00

According to Salma the detainees at Tora are still well. A large amount of food was given to them today. Also, they get to meet outside of their individual cells, daily, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Also, Free Droubi has obtained information that Ahmed has not been transferred to a hospital, although the presence of fellow detainee Ahmed Salah in Kasr El-Ainy Hospital has not been discounted. It is rumoured that Mr. Salah went on a hunger strike shortly after arriving at the prison.

Detainment of Ahmed - Update VI

2006-05-01T23:23:00.000+03:00

Again, we link to Salma's Blog for this update.

The Update

Arrests and Charges of Egyptian detainees

2006-05-01T20:16:00.000+03:00

Free Droubi has been able to obtain an English translation of the statement written by human rights organizations and published on the Kifaya website. Free Droubi had previously linked to the statement on the Kifaya website in yesterday's update.

This is the English translation that Free Droubi was able to find on The Arabist's Blog.

The Detainees: First hand accounts

2006-05-01T01:29:00.000+03:00

Free Droubi has found first hand accounts of the arrests and the ensuing attempts and visits of the detainees at Tora prison. At the moment, the posts are in Arabic but Free Droubi will attempt to bring you English translations.

The accounts are divided over a number of posts on Salma's Blog:

First Post.

Second Post.

Third Post.

Tora Prison - Day One.

A Statement concerning the Arrest

2006-04-30T14:34:00.000+03:00

We, the friends of Ahmed Yasser el Droubi, insist on his immediate release, seeing that Ahmed did not commit any crime and was simply expressing his solidarity with the Judiciary; one of the higher authorities, by virtue of the constitution and international custom. Ahmed was arrested by police-sponsored-thugs, when he and his colleagues tried to prevent those thugs from stealing their belongings.

The thugs violently attacked Ahmed and his colleagues (which led to his eyeglasses breaking), tore down the Egyptian flag they had with them, and kidnapped Ahmed and his colleagues. The detained stayed for 5 days in al Khalifa transient prison. Al Khalifa is known to be a nightmarish place, not prepared to host prisoners for more than a few hours.

Right now, Ahmed and his colleagues are officially at Torah Prison, but so far no one has been able to see him there. The arrest of Ahmed; the humanist, the non-violent, definitely weakens the message of reform and non-violence propagated by the government. In fact, a completely different and opposite message is understood.

This statement was recieved by Free Droubi from friends of Ahmed Yasser El Droubi.

Detainment of Ahmed - Update V

2006-04-30T03:26:00.000+03:00

General Update

According to the most recent information we have (arabic), forty-nine (49) people present at the protests between Monday the 24th of April and Thursday the 27th of April have been arrested and detained by the Egyptian Authorities. Most of those have been interrogated by State Security (Amn El Dawla) officials and charges have been brought against them.

Some of the detainess have not not been interrogated and thus the a list of the charges, that might have been brought up against them, is not available.

Also, a commitee has been formed to provide for the needs of the detainees. This includes food, water, personal effects and any medicines that they might require. More on this here (arabic).

Ahmed's Update

It has come to Free Droubi's attention that Ahmed has been provided with enough medicine, for his diabetes condition, to last him a month. The medicine is being kept in appropriate storage conditions. Furthermore, some food has been taken to Ahmed and the other detainees.

Through notes that (to the best of Free Droubi's and Free Droubi's sources' knowledge) were exchanged with Ahmed, he has ascertained that he is well and has not, at the present time, come under any duress (physical or otherwise) from State Security Investigators. As they are currently incarcerated, there have been no further interrogations of the detainees.

The detainees have yet to be allowed access to legal counsel although efforts are underway to rectify this situation.

Principle Sources: The Kifaya Movement and members of the Kifaya Youth.