Shady Habash (21 August 1995 – 1 May 2020)[1] was an Egyptian filmmaker.[2]

Shady Habash
Born21 August 1995
Died1 May 2020 (aged 24)
NationalityEgyptian
OccupationFilmmaker

Biography

edit

Habash started a photography and video business in 2006.[3] He was imprisoned without trial in March 2018 for making a music video for the exiled Egyptian rock musician Ramy Essam, that mocked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.[4][5] The video's release prompted the arrest of eight people, who were accused of "joining a terrorist group," "spreading false news," "abusing social media networks," "blasphemy," "contempt of religion," and "insulting the military" (Case No. 480 / 2018).[4][6] As of 3 May 2020, the video had more than five million views on YouTube.[7]

After being incarcerated for more than two years in pretrial detention, Habash died in Tora Prison in Cairo in May 2020 at the age of 24.[8][9][10][11] Prosecutors stated that Habash's cause of death was officially ruled as alcohol poisoning in an autopsy, with the prosecutor-general further elaborating that Habash had mistakenly drinken alcohol-based hand sanitizer; according to the prosecutor-general, Habash died before he could be hospitalized.[12][13] However, it is questioned whether this is the full true story. Habash had been subjected to human rights violations while imprisoned, such as "the violation of right to health", absence of trial and arbitrary detention.[6]

Before his death, others who were imprisoned with Habash had begged the prison guards for medical care for Habash. The call for medical attention was ignored, resulting in medical negligence and Shady Habash' death.[14][6]

Legacy

edit

On October 26, 2019, Habash sent out a letter from Tora prison. After Habash' death, Ramy Essam released a song using the content of this, Habash' last letter.[15]

John Greyson's 2021 experimental short documentary film International Dawn Chorus Day was created as a tribute to Habash and Sarah Hegazi.[16]

References

edit
  1. ^ Eskandar, Wael (11 June 2020). "Egypt's Second Pandemic". Zenith. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  2. ^ "Filmmaker who warned he was 'slowly dying' in Egypt prison passes away at age of 24". The Independent. 3 May 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  3. ^ "Shady Habash Studio, www.shadyhabash.com". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  4. ^ a b Michaelson, Ruth (2 May 2020). "Egyptian film-maker who worked on video mocking president dies in jail". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-05-03 – via www.theguardian.com.
  5. ^ "Egypt: Shady Habash, filmmaker who mocked el-Sisi, dies in prison". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  6. ^ a b c "International demands to reveal the cause of death of Shady Habash in his prison cell in Egypt, and assurances that his death was "arbitrary"". Committee for Justice. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  7. ^ AFP. "Young Egyptian filmmaker who mocked Sissi dies in jail". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  8. ^ Walsh, Declan (2 May 2020). "Filmmaker Who Mocked Egypt's President Dies in Prison". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-03 – via NYTimes.com.
  9. ^ Malsin, Jared (2 May 2020). "Filmmaker Jailed Over Music Video That Mocked Egypt's President Dies in Prison". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-05-03 – via www.wsj.com.
  10. ^ "Egyptian director Shady Habash dies while in jail for mocking leader". www.theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  11. ^ "Egypt director of video critical of Sisi dies in jail". www.bangkokpost.com. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  12. ^ "Egyptian director Shady Habash died in prison after drinking antiseptic alcohol: Prosecutor". Ahram Online. 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  13. ^ "Autopsy confirms alcohol poisoning caused the death of Egyptian filmmaker Shady Habash: Prosecution". Ahram Online. 2020-05-11. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  14. ^ Admin (2020-05-27). "Remembering Shady Habash: A Victim of Egypt's Horrific Prison Conditions". Human Rights Foundation. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  15. ^ Prison Doesn't Kill, Loneliness Does | السجن مابيموتش بس الوحدة بتموت #ShadyHabash #شادي_حبش R.I.P.
  16. ^ Sarah Jae Leiber, "International Dawn Chorus Day Premieres April 29". Broadway World, March 29, 2021.
edit