Abdullah ElShamy from Tora Prison: Journalism Is Not A Crime

Editor in Chief’s Note: Our Features Editor has been on assignment to pursue interviews with the AlJazeera journalists imprisoned.  Through contacts with family members, she landed this interview.

On May 3rd, ElShamy will go before a judge who will decide whether to extend his sentence another 45 days or release him.  State run media claims they have alot of evidence against him.  We have compiled a list of his statements from prison.  ~Amina

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interviewed by: Yasmine Hassan

Abdullah ElShamy, 25, is an AlJazeera Arabic journalist based in Nigeria. He is known for his coverage of the Libyan crisis as well as conflicts across Africa. Last year, he was called back to Egypt in order to cover the protests and the clashes that followed suit. ElShamy was reporting from Rabaa El Adaweya where the pro-Morsi protests were held.

In the midst of the chaos, ElShamy was arrested on August 14^th 2013 and now faces charges for inciting murder and secular violence while held in Tora Prison in Cairo. In an act of defiance, ElShamy has gone on a hunger strike, now reaching his 90^th day of protest.

With the help of a letter writing campaign organized by ElShamy’s family, we were able to get an exclusive written interview with Abdullah from prison. As days trickle by, he can only hope that he will be able to celebrate his 26^th birthday, with his wife and daughter rather than his fellow inmates.

1)   What are the circumstances that you are under in the prison? Give me details (how many to a cell, how do the officers treat you, food, sunlight, do you have a lawyer…)

I have been in a 4*3 meter cell with 15 others for the last four months. We share a 1*0.5 meter makeshift toilet and go out for 2 hours daily only. Officers treat us variably.  It’s all up to their mood and the situation on the street. Food is terrible and cooked in prisons in a very unhygienic way. I do have a lawyer but things aren’t really working according to a law so it does not matter much.

2)   What has led you to go on a hunger strike? What does your health look like now?

I went on hunger strike on the 21st of January because I realized that after 160 days on incarnation things had to be taking differently and strongly. Justice wasn’t served at all. We go to court like herds of sheep and listen to a judge who has been already told what to do regarding the case, so it was a matter of determination. I don’t really care about the reaction of the officials outside the prison in Egypt, the only aim and goal of my strike is to prove to them and to myself that hold matters in my hand and they don’t have power over me. I lost 30 KGs and constantly get a feeling of nausea and dizziness. Yet I will carry on till the end.

3)   What were you doing at the time of your arrest in Rab3a?

I was doing my job as a journalist covering the events there since the 5th of July. I have been previously residing in Nigeria as a West Africa reporter for Al Jazeera Arabic . On the 1st of July I arrived in Egypt to cover the political turmoil there. I started by covering Anti Morsi protesters in Tahrir Square till the night of the coup. Later I started in Rabaa till I was arrested on the afternoon of 14 August

4)   What would you like to tell the international community about your situation? (I would like to quote Abdullah making a statement from the prison with something that he has wanted to say to news outlets and the rest of the world in general.

I am a free person, I know I may end up dying but yet I will carry on till the end no matter what the consequences are, at any cost. Journalists are human beings with a love for life. Your support and continuous coverage is what makes them carry on with their message.

5)   What has been the reaction of prison officials to your hunger strike? What’s the overall vibe from these officials towards you? Have any of your fellow prison mates from AlJaz decided to join your strike? (Do they tell him that he’s never getting out and try to break him and stuff…)

The prison officials have tried in the beginning to threaten me to be moved to a solitary confinement.  Later they eventually gave up and sent for the general prosecutor about my situation who has requested a weekly medical checkup along with a strike statement. Currently they’ve been more neglectful and careless. Thus I have decided to stop any cooperation or abidance by any medical checks