University of Washington PhD Student Detained in Egypt

On May 24, 2018, Egyptian authorities reportedly detained Walid Salem, a PhD student at the University of Washington, in apparent connection with his academic research. He was later charged with spreading false news and joining a terrorist group.

Mr. Salem (also referred to in reports as Walid “al-Shobaky” or “al-Shobaki”) was reportedly arrested shortly after he conducted an interview with a prominent law professor regarding his work on judicial independence. Mr. Salem was reportedly held incommunicado for four days without access to a lawyer, before being arraigned in court, also without counsel. He is now one of several defendants in Egypt case number 441/2018, a criminal action case involving several activists, journalists, and others, in connection with expression and related activity.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the detention and prosecution of a student in apparent retaliation for nonviolent expressive and academic activity. State authorities have a responsibility not to interfere with the right to freedom of expression and academic freedom, so long as they are exercised peacefully and responsibly. Detentions and prosecutions aimed at limiting such activity undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:

• https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180530-egypt-arrests-phd-student-researching-judicial-system/
• https://madamirror.appspot.com/www.madamasr.com/en/2018/05/28/news/u/phd-student-missing-for-4-days-brought-before-prosecution-and-detained/
• https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2018/5/29/egypt-arrests-phd-student-researching-judicial-system
• https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/05/31/egypt-activists-arrested-dawn-raids
• http://projects.registerguard.com/apf/us/uw-student-imprisoned-in-egypt-a-reminder-that-study-abroad-can-be-both-dangerous-and-rewarding/