Abdel Khaleq Farouk, a prominent Egyptian economic commentator and analyst, was arrested on October 20, 2024 on charges of joining a terrorist organization and spreading false and inciting news over his commentary on President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi’s economic policies in more than 40 articles.
Farouk appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) on October 21. An unnamed legal source informed The New Arab that his arrest likely stemmed from a series of critical articles he posted on Facebook, including commentary on President Sisi’s New Administrative Capital project and Sisi’s position on the Israel-Gaza war. Farouk was previously detained in October 2018 after publishing a book that questioned the government’s economic policies.
Farouk was sentenced to five years in prison on October 4, 2025, after being convicted of joining a terrorist organization, spreading false information, and misusing social media over articles critical of Egypt's economic policies — a ruling that was upheld by the Court of Appeal on December 25, 2025.
On April 15, 2026, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) concluded that Egypt's detention of Farouk is arbitrary and violates his rights to liberty, freedom of opinion and expression, a fair trial, and non-discrimination.
Farouk is detained at Al-Ashir Prison, Rehabilitation 6, in Sharqia Governorate in northern Egypt. In a Facebook post, the journalist’s wife said that he needs to see a kidney and urology specialist. She expressed concern over his worsening health and noted that she has been banned from visiting him or providing him with essential medication.
Farouk’s arrest comes amid a new wave of journalist detentions in Egypt.
CPJ’s request for comment from the Public Prosecutor’s Office on Farouk’s case did not receive an immediate response.