An Icon of Suppression: Photojournalist Shawkan Is Finally Free! 22. Juni 2026 Egyptian photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid, better known as Shawkan, was arrested in 2013 while documenting the violent evacuation of the Rabaa protest camp in Cairo. Although he was merely carrying out his journalistic duties, he spent over five years in prison without trial. Following his conviction in 2018, he spent another five years under strict police supervision, during which he was required to spend twelve hours every night at a police station. During this difficult time, Shawkan became an international symbol of press freedom. Support from organizations such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF) gave him hope and helped bring his case to the world’s attention. After lengthy diplomatic efforts, Shawkan is finally free. He now lives with his family in Vienna, where he was also able to witness the birth of his daughter. On Monday, June 22, 2026, he met with Secretary-General Martin Wassermair, who assured him of the full support of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Austria for his new beginning and his continued journalistic work. As one of their first joint projects, a photo exhibition is planned for early 2027, which will showcase Shawkan’s photographic work on the 2011 Egyptian Revolution and its violent suppression. German version