Patrick George Zaki

Extra Bio Info:

Patrick George Zaki was imprisoned for his expression about his religious identity.

On February 7, 2020, authorities arrested Zaki, a graduate student and human rights researcher, at Cairo International Airport after he had returned home to Egypt from Italy. Zaki was reportedly beaten, stripped, and electrocuted by authorities before appearing with prosecutors. He was also verbally abused and threatened with sexual assault. Authorities originally charged Zaki with allegedly "joining a terrorist organization" and "spreading false information."

In September 2021, it was reported that Zaki had been indicted for “spreading false news inside and outside of the country” reportedly because of an opinion article he wrote in 2019 about being Coptic Christian in Egypt. In the article, titled “Displacement, Killing and Restriction: A Week’s Diaries of Egypt’s Copts," Zaki reacts to current events impacting Coptic Christians.

On December 7, 2021, the Mansoura Emergency State Security Court ordered Zaki's release pending trial.

On December 8, 2021, Zaki was released.

On July 18, 2023, the Emergency State Security Misdemeanors Court in Mansoura sentenced Zaki to three years in prison. He was taken into custody following the verdict.

On July 19, 2023, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pardoned Zaki. 

On July 20, 2023, Zaki was released. 

Zaki reportedly suffers from asthma which puts him at greater risk if he contracts COVID-19.