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Filmmaker Shady Habash suffered an injust death

 
My dear friend, colleague and brother, filmmaker Shady Habash died on the 2nd of May in Tora prison, Cairo, at the age of 24. He was arrested almost 800 days ago, after the release of my song Balaha causing controversy in February 2018. The music video was directed by Shady who didn’t have anything to do with the content of the song. Anyhow, Shady Habash and others faced a variety of charges, and a verdict was never given. His extremely violent arrest was followed by three days of torture and two years of medical negligence.

Shady was an award-winning photographer and director who had the skills, the passion and the right to make his art. Balaha was just one of the many music videos Shady directed in his career. Shady was not even aware of us filming the video: it was filmed by another artist outside of Egypt, and Shady only did the post production from the raw material given to him.

Making art is not a crime, and the message of my songs is my responsibility. Despite that, everyone working with me is always asked about their willingness to publish their name. None of the artists and musicians I have worked with are responsible for what is said in my songs. Shady decided to put his name on his artwork because making art should never cause harm.

Shady was a kind, funny and easy-going person. He was an amazing friend, and was always there for his loved ones. He was a very peaceful human.

Shady deserves to be remembered as the great person and artist that he was, including all his artwork, not just remembered for one music video.

A song didn’t kill Shady Habash. What killed Shady was the dictatorship and the horrendous violation of his human rights, and we have to demand for the investigation of his death caused by denial of medical care. We have to stop the same violation happening to Galal El-Behairy and Mustafa Gamal, who are still behind bars because of a song, suffering from human rights violations as thousands of others.

Rest in peace, Shady.

Ramy Essam
May 6th 2020
 
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Photographer & director Shady Habash dies at the age of 24 in Egyptian prison


Egyptian photographer and music video director Shady Habash dies in Tora prison, Cairo, at the age of 24. 

After almost 800 days in prison, photographer and music video director Shady Habash dies in Tora Prison, Cairo, on May 2nd 2020, from health issues yet not specified. 
 
Shady Habash was imprisoned since March 2018, after the release of Egyptian artist Ramy Essam’s song and music video, Balaha. As an acknowledged photographer and director Shady was constantly working on Middle Eastern projects, and Balaha was just one of the many music videos that Shady directed in his career. Shady didn’t have anything to do with the content of the song.

The charges against Shady Habash included being a member of a terrorist group, spreading false news, abuse of social-media networks, blasphemy, contempt of religion and insulting the military.

A verdict was never given.
 
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Shady Habash's Last Letter – أخر رسالة من شادى حبش

Contact: prisonersofbalaha@gmail.com

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