human rights defender
Marwa Arafa
Actions and Campaigns
Marwa Arafa
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER
Urgent support needed
Medical assistance
HRD's year of birth
1992
HRD's Gender
Woman
Type of HRD
- Other
HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Children's rights
- Civil and political rights
HRD's geographical origin
Urban
Current Status
In prison (pre-trial)
HRD's bio and work
Marwa Arafa is an Egyptian translator and child rights activist advocating for the rights of arrested minors. It is known for providing humanitarian support to families who lost their breadwinners as a result of arbitrary detention in human rights cases.
Detained since
Apr 20, 2020
Charge(s)
- Terrorism
Latitude: 30.29525766637101
Longitude: 31.74437089563484
Geolocation of detention
Country or area of detention
Region of detention
- Africa: Northern Africa
Location of detention - City/Town
Ramadan City
Location of detention - Facility
10th of Ramadan City - The10th of Ramadan Rehabilitation and Correctional Complex
Allegations / reports of ill-treatment
Marwa Arafa suffers from a herniated disc between the fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae, an additional lumbar disc herniation, and high blood pressure, according to a report issued by the medical centre at 10th of Ramadan Prison. In August 2025, she also suffered a pulmonary artery blood clot, reportedly linked to extreme heat and severe anaemia, which left her unable to move without assistance and experiencing breathing difficulties. Despite her deteriorating health, the authorities have repeatedly refused requests from her family and lawyers to transfer her to an appropriate medical facility outside the prison for the necessary diagnostic tests and treatment.
Recent case update / evolution
In December 2024, the Supreme State Security Prosecution referred Marwa Arafa and 38 others to trial before the Cairo Criminal Court on unfounded charges of joining and financing a terrorist organization. At the most recent hearing, the First Circuit of the Cairo Criminal Court adjourned her trial in Case No. 19857 of 2024 (First Nasr City Felonies) until 17 October 2026 to hear the defence’s pleadings. During the hearing, her lawyers also requested the expedited submission of a forensic medical report documenting her health condition.
Attachments
Documented by
- Country(ies) of nationality
- HRD's year of birth
- 1992
- HRD's Gender
- Woman
- Type of HRD
- Other
- HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Children's rights
- Civil and political rights
- HRD's Picture
- HRD's bio and work
Marwa Arafa is an Egyptian translator and child rights activist advocating for the rights of arrested minors. It is known for providing humanitarian support to families who lost their breadwinners as a result of arbitrary detention in human rights cases.
- HRD's geographical origin
- Urban
- Country or area of detention
- Region of detention
- Africa: Northern Africa
- Location of detention - City/Town
- Ramadan City
- Location of detention - Facility
- 10th of Ramadan City - The10th of Ramadan Rehabilitation and Correctional Complex
- Geolocation of detention
Latitude: 30.29525766637101
Longitude: 31.74437089563484
- Geolocation of detention
- Detained since
- Apr 20, 2020
- Current Status
- In prison (pre-trial)
- Charge(s)
- Terrorism
- Recent case update / evolution
In December 2024, the Supreme State Security Prosecution referred Marwa Arafa and 38 others to trial before the Cairo Criminal Court on unfounded charges of joining and financing a terrorist organization. At the most recent hearing, the First Circuit of the Cairo Criminal Court adjourned her trial in Case No. 19857 of 2024 (First Nasr City Felonies) until 17 October 2026 to hear the defence’s pleadings. During the hearing, her lawyers also requested the expedited submission of a forensic medical report documenting her health condition.
- Allegations / reports of ill-treatment
Marwa Arafa suffers from a herniated disc between the fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae, an additional lumbar disc herniation, and high blood pressure, according to a report issued by the medical centre at 10th of Ramadan Prison. In August 2025, she also suffered a pulmonary artery blood clot, reportedly linked to extreme heat and severe anaemia, which left her unable to move without assistance and experiencing breathing difficulties. Despite her deteriorating health, the authorities have repeatedly refused requests from her family and lawyers to transfer her to an appropriate medical facility outside the prison for the necessary diagnostic tests and treatment.
- Protection actions and campaigns
- Urgent support needed
Medical assistance
- Documented by
- Consent status
- Consent to register, store and publish the information
Supporting files
sorted by
Date added
5 relationships, 4 entities