HIBAPRESS. In a significant judicial development, the Misdemeanors Appeals Court in Egypt issued a decision today, Wednesday, rejecting the appeal filed by singer and actor Mohamed Ramadan, thereby confirming the previous sentence of two years imprisonment with hard labor, based on his accusation of publishing and broadcasting a song entitled "Number One Ya Ansas" via his official channel on the "YouTube" platform without obtaining the necessary legal licenses.
The Dokki Misdemeanors Court had previously ruled on November 6th to imprison Ramadan for two years with hard labor, after the competent authorities received a report stating that he had broadcast a musical work without a license issued by the Ministry of Culture or the legally authorized bodies, in a clear violation of the provisions of the Law on the Protection of Intellectual Property and the Regulation of Audio-Visual Works in force in Egypt. The investigations indicated that the song was published via the artist's official channel, which has millions of followers, without being presented to the competent censorship or obtaining prior approval, which the regulatory authorities considered a blatant violation of the legal procedures adopted in the circulation of artistic works. After listening to the statements of representatives of the Ministry of Culture and the Censorship of Artistic Works, the Public Prosecution decided to refer Mohamed Ramadan to the Misdemeanors Court, where he was charged with publishing musical content in violation of the laws regulating the circulation of artistic works, for not having a prior written permit. During the trial sessions, which the artist did not attend, the court concluded his conviction and issued its sentence of two years imprisonment with hard labor.
