Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    EGX ends week in green on Wednesday, July 23    Kibing Group plans $685m solar glass plant in Egypt's Sokhna – SCZONE chair    Remittances from Egyptians abroad surge 70% YoY in July–May: CBE    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    Egypt's current account gap narrows, but overall BoP records deficit    Egypt hosts international neurosurgery conference to drive medical innovation    Egypt, India discuss expanding industrial, investment partnerships    World Bank proposes Egypt join new global health initiative    Egypt's EDA discusses Johnson & Johnson's plans to expand investment in local pharmaceutical sector    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Famine kills more Gaza children as Israel tightens siege amid global outrage    Kuwait's Crown Prince, Egyptian minister discuss strengthening cooperation    Egyptian Drug Authority discusses plans for joint pharmaceutical plant in Zambia    Egypt's FM seeks deeper economic, security ties on five-nation West Africa tour    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Giza Pyramids' interior lighting updated with new LED system    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Photojournalist Gamal Ziada writes from inside prison
Published in Daily News Egypt on 10 - 03 - 2015

Detained photojournalist Ahmed Gamal Ziada wrote a letter from inside Abu Za'abal, Prison, sent by his brother Mohamed to Daily News Egypt.
Ziada was arrested on 28 December 2013, and has been in prison since, pending trial.
His trial finally commenced last week before a division of the criminal court assigned to look into terrorism affairs. Along with 76 students from Al-Azhar University, Ziada is accused of violating the Protest Law, and setting fire to the university's Faculty of Commerce building.
In the letter published below, Ziada recalls the three instances in which he met with Colonel Ashraf Abdul Rahman, deputy chief of Nasr City's second district police station, who testified in court that he did not witness the fire, the protests or any protesters.
"On Saturday 28 December, I took some photos of security forces arresting two students walking by in front of Al-Azhar University, more specifically near the pedestrian staircase. The arrested students were tied and thrown into the police truck.
"This was the occasion of the first conversation between the deputy chief of Nasr City police station, who later arrested me, and myself. ‘Are you photographing us?' he asked me. ‘I think you ought to take photos of those sons of *** who are setting the university on fire!'
"Making my way out, I told him: ‘That is exactly what I was about to do right now.' What followed were the most demeaning insults and unjustifiable beating. ‘Take out your memory card, take out your mobile phone, may God take out your soul!' I was told. One of the other officers then put my brand new phone in his pocket.
"The memory card contained a video proving that police arrests were arbitrary, random and abusive. The camera was included as evidence without the memory card.
"In November 2014, the head of the prosecution in Abu Za'abal prison called me to try to talk me into – or threaten me – ending a hunger strike I had started in jail. The deputy chief of Nasr City police station who arrested me was in the office by coincidence. He asked me: ‘Do you know me?' I answered: ‘Nothing will make me forget the person because of whom my life is ruined in prison.'
"He kept quiet, so I carried on: ‘28 December, 2013, there was a young man with a camera trying to photograph the university clashes. You stopped him and asked him why he was taking pictures of the police and not the *** students. Then you beat him. The conscripts under your command took the trouble off your hands and did the beating themselves...' He was silent but had a cold smile on his face.
"‘I am that young man,' I told him, as he acted surprised. ‘Are you still in jail since then? I was just checking you, I did not know you would be held for too long,' he said. ‘Yes, it has been a year since you ‘checked' me,' I said. ‘Well, that is to blame on the prosecution and judicial authorities,' he replied.
"I told him I did not care who was to blame, but I did tell him that I did not and will not forgive him until the day comes that we all stand before God.
"On 4 March, 2014, the court heard the testimony of the corrupt police officers, and I had nobody to testify in my favour, neither my colleagues nor even the director of the network I work for. The judge questioned the same police officer who arrested me. He asked him if he saw any protests on that day, if he witnessed the fire and if he arrested anybody. The answers were: ‘No I did not see anything or any of the violent elements.'
"I thought that naturally he could not testify that he arrested me because that would contradict the statements he had given in court and would acquit me. I was shocked by his answers, and kept yelling from the glass cage, where nobody can hear you, no matter how much you scream. I asked to speak to him, and he sent me a reply: ‘After the session.'
"The session concluded and he disappeared, but I found him as we approached our prison cells again and I spoke o him. I asked him how come he testified that he made no arrests. ‘I did not lie, maybe my memory failed me. Maybe you should have reminded me before the court session...' he told me.
"‘Here I am, reminding you,' I said. ‘All I want is for you to speak the truth about the details of my arrests.' ‘I am sorry but I cannot change my testimony, and neither could you, anything you say will not benefit you or harm me,' he said.
"And I returned to my dark prison cell, laid on the floor as usual, and thought of that officer going home, sleeping on his bed, waking up and drinking his coffee before starting his work, wondering who else he was going to misjudge..."


Clic here to read the story from its source.