Al-Manassa –
The Supreme State Security Prosecution on Oct. 5 renewed the pretrial detention of taxi driver Romany Gharib for 15 days pending investigations into charges of “joining a terrorist group and spreading false news,” according to a statement by the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF).
ECRF said in a statement that security forces arrested Gharib two days after he posted a video seeking help over what he described as harassment by a police officer at Cairo International Airport. The officer confiscated his ID card, driver’s license and route permit after Gharib refused the officer’s request that he drive someone into the airport.
In a video Gharib posted to his Facebook account on July 16, he said, “I’m coming from Suez and going into the airport to pick up a passenger. All my papers are in order. The officers here stopped me and told me to take someone with me and bring him inside. I refused, so the officer took my ID, license and route permit and stopped me. He won’t let me into the airport.”
“I want my voice to reach the officials. What did I do wrong? I pay taxes and insurance and all my papers are in order. Why are we being treated this way? I came to pick up a passenger and go back. All of this happened to me because I refused to take the passenger the officer wanted to force into my car.”
ECRF said Gharib was arrested and forcibly disappeared after posting the video. He later appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution, which charged him with “joining a terrorist group and spreading false news” in Case No. 4832 of 2026 (State Security).
Alkarma TV, which describes itself as “a global Christian channel for Arabic speakers,” reported in August, citing Gharib’s lawyer, Saeed Fayez, that the prosecution questioned his client about a post he had previously published when the government raised gasoline prices. The post showed Gharib riding a donkey and saying, “This will be the mode of transport from now on.”
The channel quoted Fayez as saying that, at the detention renewal hearing, the defense argued that there was no basis for the charges against Gharib and that his statements were simply satirical commentary on government decisions. Fayez added that Gharib had not insulted the officer or crossed any line, including in his posted video.
He added that what Gharib wrote was “part of the humorous and satirical style he is known for,” and called for a distinction between satirical criticism and criminal activity.
Gharib regularly posts satirical videos on Facebook commenting on unusual scenes and actions that he considers illogical.
The lawyer said continued pretrial detention in the case “sends an extremely harsh message to broad segments of ordinary people: that a citizen who expresses anger, mocks a government decision or speaks about a problem he has faced may find himself facing extremely serious charges, including accusations of joining a terrorist group.”
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