Rights groups call for justice for dead Egyptian filmmaker

Dozens of human rights organizations from around the world have signed an open letter to the Egyptian authorities calling for a full investigation into the death of a young filmmaker in a maximum security prison.

Shady Habash was 24 when he died earlier this month, and had already been detained without trial for more than two years.

He was accused of spreading fake news and belonging to an illegal organization over a music video that made fun of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Officials say Habash died after drinking hand sanitizer by mistake but the letter's authors question this account.

They urge Egypt to release all artists and writers in pre-trial detention which they say violates international treaties Egypt has signed.

NEW: In a letter, PEN America and 60 other organizations call on the Egyptian government to fully investigate the death in custody earlier this spring of filmmaker Shady Habash. He was held 793 days in pre-trial detention before his death. https://t.co/Q6XflmNmGv

— PEN America (@PENamerica) May 22, 2020