Eagles Filmmakers Demand Egypt Release Detained Actor
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- Filmmakers behind "Eagles of the Republic" sent a letter to Egypt's public prosecutor demanding the immediate release of actor Hassan El Sayed, calling his detention punishment for "trumped up charges" linked to his participation in the film.
- El Sayed was arrested on December 20, 2025, upon arrival at Cairo International Airport and is being held in 10th of Ramadan prison on the charge of "joining a terrorist group while being aware of its objectives," according to Amnesty International.
- El Sayed's on-screen appearance in the film lasted only about 20 seconds, playing a priest; the filmmakers stress he is a long-time Danish resident with no political involvement, no access to the full script, and no influence over the film's content.
- The letter, addressed to Prosecutor-General Mohamed Shawky Ayyad (sworn in by President El-Sisi in 2023), lists four demands: immediate release, dropping of all charges, full access to legal counsel and family, and safe return to Denmark.
- Amnesty International is also campaigning for El Sayed's release, reporting that his lawyer is barred from in-person visits and that his family, who last saw him March 14, say his mental health has been "severely impacted" by detention.
- The film, which stars Fares Fares as an actor forced to portray Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last May.
Why it matters: Egypt has extended prosecution to a Danish resident for a 20-second extra role in a Cannes-premiered film, with the filmmaker's letter naming Prosecutor-General Ayyad — personally installed by El-Sisi — as the decision-maker. For international co-productions casting in or near Egypt, the case sets a concrete cost: a minor participant has already spent months detained with restricted legal access and documented mental-health deterioration.
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