The Egyptian cartoonist has been imprisoned for 8 months and his detention is renewed every 45 days without any guarantee for his fundamental rights. Cartooning for Peace reiterates its concern at the widespread arbitrary detention of journalists.
A contributor to the Al-Manassa independent news platform, Mr Omar stands accused of “joining a terrorist group while being aware of its purposes, disseminating and publishing rumours and false news and information, and abuse of social media”, with no presentation of evidence forthcoming. During a six-hour interrogation by the Supreme State Security Prosecution, he was asked whether his cartoons were intended to incite the public. In the days prior to his arrest Mr Omar’s cartoons had focused on the debt crises and electrical blackouts in Egypt.
