Filmmakers behind the award-winning drama-thriller Eagles of the Republic are demanding the immediate release of actor Hassan El Sayed, who is being held in Egypt on what they say are trumped up charges for participating in the film.
“We stand by the principle that art must never become a pretext for punishment,” producers Linus Stöhr Torell, Johan Lindström, Linda Mutawi, Alexandre Mallet-Guy, co-producers Monica Hellström, Misha Jaari, and Mark Lwoff, and executive producer Emil Wiklund write in a letter addressed to Public Prosecutor Mohamed Shawky Ayyad. The letter, shared with Deadline, adds, “We are particularly troubled by reports of Hassan El Sayed’s enforced disappearance, limited access to legal counsel, and the impact of his detention on his mental well-being.” [See the full text below].
Amnesty International is also calling for El Sayed’s release. The rights group says on its website, “On 20 December 2025, Egyptian national and Danish
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