Two months after she was abducted by the office of the Public Prosecutor in Cairo, Film editor and political activist Sanaa Seif made an appearance in the court for being accused of terrorism-related charges. Meanwhile, several international film female figures have demanded her immediate release from detention.
Expressing solidarity with a fellow filmmaker, hundreds of international prominent women in the film making industry have signed a petition calling on Egyptian authorities to release the 26-year old activist who was abducted by individuals in a small van as she was standing with her mother and older sister outside of the Public Prosecutor's office demanding to get in touch with her jailed brother after months of suspending all kinds of communications with him.
Among the filmmakers, who signed the petition, were French film director Claire Denis, English actress Judi Dench, French actress Juliette Binoche, and Indian author Arundhati Roy.
Amnesty International has reported that Sanaa, who has been in arbitrary detention since June, has been charged with "disseminating false news,” “inciting terrorist crimes” and “misusing social media.”
Sanaa is the youngest sister of prominent political activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who has also been surprisingly arrested last September ,only a few months after his release following serving a 5-year sentence due to his years-long activism.
Sanaa Seif, the youngest sister of imprisoned activist Alaa Abd El Fattah was abducted today outside the Public Prosecutor’s office, according to her family. Seif was forced into a microbus and driven away as her lawyer was waiting for her outside the office. pic.twitter.com/WG0u7oDdim
— Mada Masr مدى مصر (@MadaMasr) June 23, 2020
My mind can't yet understand that the youngest - and bravest- of us is back in prison for the THIRD time since Sisi came to power. #FreeSanaa and Free all the unjustly detained in Egyptian prisons, political or not pic.twitter.com/V9QIcxu3TQ
— Mona Seif (@Monasosh) August 7, 2020
Ever since the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi assumed power in July 2013, following what has been described by many as a 'military coup' overthrowing the Muslim-brotherhood affiliated President Mohammed Mursi, several members of the Seif family have had been jailed, including Sanaa who has been arrested for the third times since 2013.
Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Naomie Harris, Anish Kapoor, Arundhati Roy are some of a growing list of cultural figures who have signed this statement calling on the Egyptian authorities for the immediately release SANAA SEIF https://t.co/TNoAz4pwgt
— Jane Samuels (@Jane_Samuels) August 4, 2020
