Egyptian Filmmaker Omar Salah Marei Forcibly Disappeared; Release Him Now!

The ICFR calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Omar Salah Marei, forcibly disappeared in Cairo on May 11

EXTREMELY URGENT

The International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (ICFR) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Egyptian filmmaker and screenwriter Omar Salah Marei, our colleague, who has been forcibly disappeared by security forces in plain clothes since the evening of 11 May 2026. Four days after his arrest, his whereabouts remain unknown, no authority has claimed responsibility for his detention, and no reason has been given for it. Most critically, Omar has serious pre-existing medical conditions that require uninterrupted daily care, and there is no indication whatsoever that he is receiving any.

At approximately 7:00 PM on 11 May 2026, a group of security officers in plain clothes raided Omar Salah Marei's apartment in Cairo without presenting a judicial warrant. Omar was at home; his wife, Nora Elsayed, was away. The officers broke down the apartment door and damaged furniture. They seized the cash in the apartment, four laptop computers, two mobile phones, and scripts for future projects. Omar was then taken to an undisclosed location. No information was provided to his family or legal counsel regarding his whereabouts, the charges against him, or the authority responsible for his detention.

Omar has had no contact with the outside world since. On 12 May 2026, his family submitted two official telegrams, one to the Egyptian Minister of Interior, Major General Mahmoud Tawfik, and one to the Public Prosecutor, Counselor Mohamed Shawky Ayad, requesting the immediate disclosure of his whereabouts and calling for an urgent investigation.

Omar Salah Marei is 35 years old, married, an engineer by training who turned to filmmaking through his own drive and initiative, and has established himself as a serious, critical, and responsible contributor to Egypt's independent cinema scene. He has directed short films including Balh (2013) and Glass Window (2015), which screened at multiple local and international festivals, as well as Selfie (2016), made during a workshop at the Luxor African Film Festival and screened at its closing ceremony. He received the Best Director award at the Diva Short Film Festival in 2017, and his screenplay Escape of His Excellency the Important Commando won the Nadine Shams Award for Best Short Film Script at the Cairo International Film Festival in 2017, awarded by a jury headed by renowned Egyptian filmmaker Ali Badrakhan. He has also collaborated on a number of projects with fellow filmmakers, and uses comedy as a vehicle for brave commentary and critique. 

His wife, Nora Elsayed, speaks of him as “an artist and a filmmaker who has always believed in creative freedom and the people’s right to express themselves and to dream,” and adds that what is happening to him “does not only affect one individual; it sends a message of fear and intimidation to all artists and creators.”

Of particular and immediate concern, the medical risks Omar faces in detention are severe. He suffers from a thyroid disorder that requires daily medication which must not be interrupted due to the serious health consequences of doing so. Additionally, approximately three months before his arrest, he sustained a severe wrist injury requiring surgical intervention involving nine screws and two metal plates, leaving it in an extremely fragile condition. He was still in his recovery phase at the time of his detention, undergoing physiotherapy and relying on a medical brace. Continuous medical care is essential to his wellbeing and recovery. We have no indication that he is receiving any care or attention.

The ICFR demands the immediate release of Omar Salah Marei. His detention by an unidentified authority, without stated charges, without access to legal counsel, and without any contact with the outside world is unlawful and must end now. We hold the Egyptian authorities fully responsible for his safety and wellbeing for as long as he remains in their custody, and will continue to follow this case closely, keeping the global film community informed of any developments.

The International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk