On Saturday evening, the Egyptian authorities released the Egyptian businessman, Safwan Thabet, and his son, Seif El-Din, according to his daughter and his lawyer.
Safwan and his son own the "Juhayna" company, the food industry giant in Egypt, and it was decided to imprison them about two years ago, on charges including belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood, banned in the country since 2013, but the family denied any wrongdoing in statements on social media, according to Reuters.
During the last period, the two businessmen were on a list of demands calling for their release in order to reassure investors in the country, noting that their arrest at that time shook the company listed on the stock exchange, which is one of the largest companies producing milk and juices in Egypt.
Neither of the two has been convicted.
Amnesty International reported in 2021 that the authorities were detaining Thabet and his son over their refusal to hand over some assets to a state entity, an account confirmed by sources close to the family, according to Reuters.
Egyptian lawyer Ahmed Abul-Ela Madi, Thabet's lawyer and his son, confirmed on his Facebook page that they had been released, without further details.
His daughter, Maryam Safwan Thabet, also confirmed on her Facebook page that her father and brother are with them at home, expressing her happiness with this step.
No statement was issued by the Egyptian authorities regarding the release, but it was welcomed by activists. The left-wing lawyer and former candidate for the presidency of Egypt, Khaled Ali, congratulated Thabet and his family on his Facebook page on this release.
Journalist Hafez al-Mirazi described, on his Facebook page, their release as good and positive news, while journalist and writer Ammar Ali Hassan tweeted on his Twitter account, saying that the release of businessman Safwan Thabet and his son was a good step.
The Egyptian authorities arrested Safwan Thabet, 76, at the end of 2020, and two months later the arrest of his son, Seif El-Din, 41, on charges including belonging to the banned Brotherhood in the country.