Producers of the film 'Eagles of the Republic' are demanding the immediate release of actor Hassan El Sayed, who has been held in Egypt since December 2025 on charges related to his minor role in the movie. They describe the charges as trumped up and highlight concerns over his access to legal counsel and mental well-being. Amnesty International has joined the call for his release.
Hassan El Sayed, an Egyptian national and long-time Danish resident, was arrested on December 20, 2025, upon arrival at Cairo International Airport. National Security Agency officials questioned him about his brief appearance as a priest in 'Eagles of the Republic,' a drama-thriller that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025. The film stars Fares Fares and depicts a famed actor forced to portray Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. El Sayed's screen time totals about 20 seconds, performed without access to the full script or narrative context, according to the producers. A prosecutor ordered his pretrial detention on the charge of 'joining a terrorist group while being aware of its objectives.' He is held in the 10th of Ramadan prison, where his lawyer is limited to online hearings, and his family last visited on March 14, noting impacts on his mental health despite physical stability. Producers Linus Stöhr Torell, Johan Lindström, Linda Mutawi, Alexandre Mallet-Guy, co-producers Monica Hellström, Misha Jaari, Mark Lwoff, and executive producer Emil Wiklund addressed a letter to Public Prosecutor Mohamed Shawky Ayyad, who was sworn in by President El-Sisi in 2023. They stated, “We stand by the principle that art must never become a pretext for punishment,” and emphasized that El Sayed had no influence over the film's content. The letter demands his immediate release, dropping of charges, full access to counsel and family, and safe return to Denmark. Amnesty International reports similar details and urges action via a model letter to Ayyad. El Sayed's credits include Cairo Conspiracy (2022), The Charmer (2017), and Flow (2014).
