Mahmoud Abu Zeid facts for kids

Mahmoud Abou Zeid took pictures in Tahir Square in Cairo during the Egyptian protests.

Mahmoud Abu Zeid at the World Economic Forum in 2008.

Mahmoud Abu Zeid, also known as Shawkan, was born around 1987. He is an Egyptian photojournalist. He was arrested for taking photos of a large protest in Cairo, Egypt, in August 2013. He was then held in prison by the Egyptian government.

By September 2018, he was sentenced to a five-year prison term. He was finally released on March 4, 2019.

About Shawkan's Life

While Shawkan was in prison, he faced difficult conditions. He was diagnosed with some health problems. He also did not always receive the proper medical care he needed.

Shawkan's Career as a Photojournalist

Shawkan is a freelance photojournalist. This means he takes pictures for different news companies. He started working for Demotix in April 2010.

After big changes in the Egyptian government in 2013, Shawkan took photos of protests. These protests were against General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. His pictures have been shown in famous magazines like Time. They have also appeared in newspapers like The Sun and Die Zeit. His work was also seen on the BBC website.

Many human rights groups have used his photos. These include Amnesty International and Global Voices.

His Arrest and Time in Prison

Shawkan was arrested on August 14, 2013. He was taking pictures of a large protest in Cairo. Two other journalists were arrested with him. However, these two journalists were not Egyptian and were later released. Shawkan stayed in prison for more than two years without any formal charges.

His case was part of a bigger trial involving about 700 other people. This trial was called the "Rabaa sit-in dispersal" case. Shawkan's camera was not used as proof that he was just a photojournalist. This made his situation as a prisoner unclear.

By November 2015, he had been held without trial for over two years. On March 26, 2016, he was formally charged with several offenses. This meant he could face very serious consequences.

On September 8, an Egyptian court gave him a five-year jail sentence. His lawyer, Karim Abdelrady, said this meant Shawkan could leave prison "within a few days." But his lawyer also said the sentence was "unfair." He believed Shawkan was only doing his job.

Shawkan was released early on March 4, 2019. This was six years after he was first arrested. As part of his sentence, he had to report to a police station every day. He had to stay there from 6 PM to 6 AM for the next five years. His full release was on August 14, 2023.

Journalists in Prison

In 2015, Egypt was one of the top ten countries for putting journalists in prison. About 12 journalists were held there. Shawkan was held in Egypt's Tora Prison. By the end of 2015, China had the most imprisoned journalists, with 49.

Support for Shawkan

Many groups around the world campaigned for Shawkan's release. They used the hashtag #FreeShawkan on social media. Several organizations that support press freedom called for him to be set free. These included the Rory Peck Trust and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Amnesty International also started an online petition.

In February 2015, the CPJ met with officials in Egypt. They asked for Shawkan's release. Shawkan's case was also part of the Press Uncuffed campaign. This campaign helps free imprisoned journalists worldwide. They sell bracelets with journalists' names to raise awareness. In 2016, the CPJ even showed Shawkan's photos at the Bronx Documentary Center.

In 2018, UNESCO gave Shawkan a special award for press freedom. They said his arrest was a violation of human rights. Jason Stern from the CPJ said Shawkan should never have been arrested for doing his job. Shawkan himself wrote letters about how journalism in Egypt had become dangerous.

Shawkan's brother, Mohammed, spoke about his brother's imprisonment. He said, "My brother never held a gun, he was simply doing his job."

Photo Exhibitions

• "The Price of Photography: Shawkan, 1,000+ Days Behind Bars," shown at the Bronx Documentary Center.

Awards and Recognition

• 2016, John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award. The National Press Club said Shawkan's case showed how strict Egyptian authorities were with the press.
• 2016, International Press Freedom Award, from the Committee to Protect Journalists.
• 2018, UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Press Freedom Prize. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions said his arrest was unfair. Maria Ressa, who led the award jury, said, "The choice of Mahmoud Abu Zeid pays tribute to his courage, resistance and commitment to freedom of expression."

The Free Shawkan Foundation

Shawkan's best friend, Ahmed Abu Seif, started the Free Shawkan Foundation in the United States. This group works to help Shawkan and other journalists who are in prison around the world.

See also

In Spanish: Mahmoud Abu Zeid para niños

• Human rights in Egypt