PEN SA Calls for the Release of Egyptian Journalist and Novelist Ahmed Naji

This is one of the cases highlighted by PEN on the Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2016. Read about the other cases here.

Novelist and journalist Ahmed Naji is currently serving a two-year prison sentence in Egypt for ‘violating public modesty’ in relation to the publication of excerpts from his 2014 novel Istikhdam al-Hayat (The Use of Life) in Akhbar al-Adab magazine, also in 2014. Naji has now served almost eight months of his sentence. Read more about the case and find out what you can do to help on PEN International’s website.

PEN South Africa has sent a letter to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Minister of Justice, Mohamed Hossam Abdel-Rahim calling for Ahmed Naji to be released:

PEN South Africa is writing to express our concern at the imprisonment of novelist and journalist Ahmed Naji. He has served eight months of a two-year prison sentence for ‘violating public modesty’ in relation to the publication of excerpts from his 2014 novel Istikhdam al-Hayat (The Use of Life) in Akhbar al-Adab magazine, also in 2014.

The charges against Naji, brought under Art. 178 of Egypt’s Penal Code, directly contravene Egypt’s 2014 Constitution, which protects freedom of expression under Art. 65. In addition, Art. 67 expressly protects freedom of artistic and literary creation and forbids the jailing of writers and artists for publishing their work.

We urge you to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Naji and all other writers and journalists currently detained in Egypt in connection with their peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression, in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Egypt is a state party.

We also call on you to urgently review Article 178 of the penal code which criminalises content that violates public morals, to ensure that it is not used to impose restrictions which exceed those that may be imposed under international law.
Sincerely

Margie Orford
President
PEN South Africa

Mandla Langa
Executive Vice-President
PEN South Africa

Raymond Louw
Vice President
PEN South Africa