Israa Abdel Fattah
Esraa Abdel Fattah | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age Egypt |
| Occupation(s) | Blogger, internet activist |
| Known for | Founding member of April 6 Youth Movement, activism during 2011 Egyptian protests |
Esraa Abdel Fattah (; born 1978), frequently referred to as Facebook Girl, is an Egyptian blogger and internet activist.
In 2008, she played a key role in establishing the April 6 Youth Movement to support workers in El-Mahalla El-Kubra who were preparing to strike on April 6. This initiative later developed into a major political force.
Abdel Fattah was held without trial on terrorism-related accusations starting in October 2019. She was honored with the Courage Tribute Award by the World Movement for Democracy in July 2021 and subsequently freed on July 17, 2021.
2008 arrest
In 2008, Egyptian security forces detained Abdel Fattah, turning her into a prominent figure symbolizing opposition to government censorship and corruption. After spending two weeks in detention, she was released and temporarily stepped back from political activism.
2011 Egyptian protest
During the nationwide protests against Hosni Mubarak's government in January 2011, she became active again, providing online coverage and updates for Al Jazeera Media Network.
Following the March 2011 attacks on state security offices, which appeared aimed at destroying files, authorities discovered a dossier on Isra’a containing ten pages of documents chronicling three years of wiretapping and hacked emails, some involving her divorce. She described the invasion of her privacy as an indescribable violation.
Her name was among those suggested for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. On October 31, 2011, Glamour magazine recognized her as Woman of the Year.
Imprisonment under Sisi regime
Under President Sisi’s administration, Abdel Fattah contributed as a reporter and social media coordinator for the news outlet Tahrir News, which was banned by the government. On October 13, 2019, she was arrested by plainclothes agents; reports indicate she endured torture and was held in pretrial detention. In August 2020, new accusations were brought against her, including membership in a terrorist group, disseminating false information, and committing terrorist acts allegedly while imprisoned. In July 2021, she was awarded the Courage Tribute Award by the World Movement for Democracy. Shortly after US officials voiced concerns regarding another activist’s prosecution in Egypt, she was released on July 17, 2021, along with several other leading journalists and opposition figures.