Khaled Lotfy - Presidential Pardon Paramount

Photo Courtesy - IPA

The International Publishers Association has called for a Presidential Pardon to free Khaled Lotfy - publisher of the Egyptian edition of Uri Bar-Joseph's - 'The Angel: The Egyptian Spy Who Saved Israel'. 

Chair of the IPA Freedom to Publish Committee stated, "It is incomprehensible that Khaled Lotfy can be imprisoned, not only for publishing a book, but for publishing a new version of a book that was already available.  His only chance of freedom is a Presidential Pardon, and we implore President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to release Khaled so that he can be reunited with his family."

Photo - Courtesy IPA - Khaled Lotfy - owns the respected Tanmia Bookshop & Publishing house - est 2011 #Free_Khaled_Lotfy

After an extended period of 11 postponements, the Egyptian Military Court of Cassation laid down the ruling - Lotfy would serve a 5-year prison sentence for publishing the book.  According to the IPA - the April 2019 ruling accused Lotfy of 'spreading rumours and revealing military secrets as a result of publishing a cheaper, Arabic language, Egyptian edition', of the said book.

Photo - IPA

Photo - IPA

Although, 'The Angel: The Egyptian Spy Who Saved Israel' was turned into a successful Netflix film titled - 'The Angel'; and Khaled Lotfy received the IPA' Prix Voltaire Award in May 2019, it appears nothing short of a Presidential Pardon will save this diligent publisher from prison.

Lofty has been detained in Egypt for the past two years unable to leave, meet or communicate with family. His publishing serves to spread knowledge and create awareness of different cultures.

• To read more about, 'The Angel: The Egyptian Spy Who Saved Israel' click the link.
• To find out more about the IPA - The International Publishers Association, established in 1896, is the world's largest federation of publishers associations with 83 members in 69 countries.
• Learn more about the Prix Voltaire Award