Galal El-Behairy

Galal El-Behairy
Born27 June 1990 
OccupationPoet 

Galal El-Behairy (born June 27, 1990[1]) is an Egyptian poet, songwriter, and political prisoner.[2] Two collections of his poetry have been published: Masna’a El Karasy (The Chair Factory, 2015) and Segn Bel Alwan (Colorful Prison, 2017).[1]

El-Behairy's lyrics often have been used in songs by exiled Egyptian musician Ramy Essam. El-Behairy was arrested on March 5, 2018 following the release of Essam's song “Balaha” on February 26, 2018.[2][1] On July 31, 2018, El-Behairy was sentenced to three years in prison in connection with his unpublished poetry collection, The Finest Women on Earth.[2] Despite having served the full three-year term to which he was originally sentenced, El-Behairy remains in prison more than seven years later.[2]

International human rights organizations such as the United Nations Human Rights Council[3] PEN International[1] and PEN America consider El-Behairy to be imprisoned for the peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression. They have called for his release and expressed concern about his health and safety.[4] In 2025, Galal El-Behairy was awarded the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write award by PEN America.[5] The award was accepted on his behalf by his father Abdelfattah Galal and sister Naiera Galal.[6]

Career

El-Behairy has written three collections of poetry: Masna’a El Karasy (The Chair Factory, 2015), Segn Bel Alwan (Colorful Prison, 2017)[1] and The Finest Women on Earth (unpublished as of 2018.)[2]

External videos
“Segn Bel Alwan”, performed by Ramy Essam and Lebanese rapper Malikah

Galal El-Behairy's lyrics are used in a number of songs by the exiled Egyptian musician Ramy Essam. Essam was referred to as a “Voice of the Revolution” for his involvement in the 2011 Egyptian revolution during the Arab Spring.[7] "Segn Bel Alwan" ("Colorful Prison"), the title poem of El-Behairy's second poetry collection, is the basis for Essam's hit song of the same name.[8] "Segn Bel Alwan" recognizes women for their resistance to oppression in Egypt and worldwide.[9]

Imprisonment

On February 26, 2018, Ramy Essam released the song “Balaha”, which contains lyrics written by Galal El-Behairy. The title is a derogatory term, literally translated as "date", which is used for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The song satirizes Egypt's military rulers for political corruption and the state of Egypt's economy. As of October 18, 2023, the song's YouTube video had received over 7 million views.[2][10]

At least seven people were subsequently arrested due to supposed connections to Essam and the song “Balaha.”[2][11] Most were later released. The video's director, Shady Habash, died on May 1, 2020 after being held for two years in pretrial detention in Tora prison in Cairo. Habash's death was reportedly due to alcohol poisoning from drinking hand sanitizer.[2][11]

On February 28, 2018, two days after the release of “Balaha”, Egyptian Minister of Culture Enas Abdel Dayem publicly denounced Galal El-Behairy on live television, referencing his poetry collection The Finest Women on Earth. Despite having already printed the first edition, the book’s publisher, Dar Da’ad Publishing and Distribution, terminated their contract with El-Behairy and the copies of the book were not released.[12][13]

El-Behairy was arrested at Cairo International Airport on either March 3, 2018[3][4] or March 5, 2018.[1][14] His whereabouts were unknown until March 10, 2018 when he appeared before the High State Security Prosecution.[4] It appeared that he had been tortured during his enforced disappearance. Initial charges in Civilian Court were related to the song “Balaha”, but this prosecution was later dropped.[14]

El-Behairy was subsequently charged in the Egyptian Military Court in Cairo,[15] a tactic that has been increasingly used in Egypt in violation of due process.[16] The charges in military court related to his unpublished poetry collection, The Finest Women on Earth. It was claimed that the title was intended as an insult to soldiers, which El-Behairy has denied.[14] Rather, he has stated that the title was “a recognition of the value of women and of their good deeds in this world".[13] El-Behairy faced multiple charges including “spreading false news and rumors” and “insulting the Egyptian army”.[4] He appeared in court on May 6, 2018, but sentencing was repeatedly postponed. On July 31, 2018, he was sentenced to 3 years on prison and a fine of 10 000 Egyptian pounds.[2] The fine was later overturned.[4]

When the three year sentence ended in 2021, El-Behairy was forcibly disappeared for three weeks before being brought before the Supreme State Security Prosecution to again be charged. However, he has not been tried on new charges. As of September 5, 2023, he reached the maximum legal allowable time for being held in pretrial detention (2 years), without being either tried or released.[1][4] The practices of enforced disappearance, torture, long periods in pretrial detention, and the “recycling” of prisoners through repeated cases and additional charges, are human rights abuses frequently used in Egypt.[17][2]

El-Behairy remains in prison in Cairo despite having served his full sentence, and exceeded Egypt's legal limits for pretrial detention. On the 5th anniversary of his detention, March 5, 2023, El-Behairy started a hunger strike in protest.[2][15] He continued this hunger strike until June 4, 2023, stopping due to ill health.[4] He resumed his hunger strike on September 5, 2023, and made a suicide attempt on September 9, 2023.[18]

International human rights organizations such as the United Nations Human Rights Council,[3] PEN International,[1] and PEN America[19] have called for El-Behairy's release and expressed concern about his health and safety.[4]

Awards and honors

  • 2025, PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write award, PEN America[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Galal EL-BEHAIRY". PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k ElGendy, Abdelrahman (18 October 2023). "The Poet Who Penned 'Balaha' Is Still Behind Egyptian Bars". New Lines Magazine. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Egypt: UN human rights experts urge release of poet/songwriter". OHCHR. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Galal El-Behairy". PEN America. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Remarks Accepting the Freedom to Write Award on Behalf of Galal El-Behairy". PEN America. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  6. ^ Goldberg, D. (2025-05-13). "2025 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award Honoree: Galal El-Behairy". PEN America. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  7. ^ Fuchs, Ellise (2023-08-15). "Reflections of a Revolutionary: Interview with Egyptian Musician Ramy Essam » PopMatters". www.popmatters.com. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  8. ^ Hijazi, Jennifer (August 6, 2018). "'False news' charges put this Egyptian poet in prison". PBS News. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  9. ^ "Egypt's rock rebel Ramy Essam: 'My cause is humanity and freedom'". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  10. ^ ""Balaha" by singer Ramy Essam". Politics, Popular Culture and the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. University of Warwick. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Remembering Shady Habash: A Victim of Egypt's Horrific Prison Conditions". Human Rights Foundation. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  12. ^ Foreman, Charlotte (2018-06-25). "Galal El-Behairy". Artists at Risk Connection (ARC). Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  13. ^ a b Benzizoune, Romaissaa (July 16, 2019). "'500 Tomorrows': On Jailed Egyptian Poet Galal El-Behairy". ARABLIT & ARABLIT QUARTERLY. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  14. ^ a b c Kolbjørnsen, Ingvar (7 March 2025). "Egyptian poet and lyricist, Galal El-Behairy enters eighth year in prison". Freemuse. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  15. ^ a b "Balaha Case Info". Ramy Essam. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  16. ^ "Egypt: 7,400 Civilians Tried In Military Courts". Human Rights Watch. April 13, 2016. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  17. ^ "2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Egypt". United States Department of State. 2023. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  18. ^ "Egypt: Poet Galal El-Behairy attempts suicide amid prolonged arbitrary detention". PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  19. ^ "Three-Year Prison Sentence for Poet Galal El-Behairy is Another Blow for Freedom of Expression in Egypt". PEN America. 2018-07-31. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
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