My husband Karim Ennarah was arrested in Egypt in November 2020 as part of a crackdown on the Human Rights organisation where he works, The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). His only crime was to dare to believe that Egyptians deserve the most basic of human rights. We only just got married in September 2020 - now nearly two years since he was released from prison, Karim is still trapped in Egypt under a travel ban and asset freeze and we are unable to start a life together in the UK. 

There are potentially thousands of activists, academics and bloggers being subjected to travel bans in Egypt and I need your help to try to put a stop to this life destroying tactic.

Karim and his colleagues' arrest came as a result of a meeting between his organisation works and diplomats from various European countries - including the UK. Which is why our Government has a duty to do everything it can to help secure Karim's freedom

EIPR does important work such as documenting incidents of sectarian violence and violence against women, and leading research into strengthening economic and social rights. Karim was particularly focussed on human rights abuses within policing and the criminal justice system, which makes his arrest and detention all the more absurd. 

After his arrest, Karim was interrogated and put in solitary confinement without access to family or his lawyers. As is usually the case with human rights defender Karim was charged with belonging to a terrorist group and spreading false information. Patrick George Zaki, Mohamed Bashir and EIPR executive director Gasser Abdel Razek were also arrested and released but remain on travel bans.

Two years ago when we got married we were dreaming of our future together, now I have no idea when he will be able free. 

On Tuesday 5th July Liz Truss will meet the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and If we apply pressure now - before this meeting - we stand the best chance of securing his freedom. Please sign this petition calling on the UK Government to urgently intervene and call on the Egyptian authorities to drop the charges against Karim and the EIPR staff.