In the aftermath of the 2013 Egyptian coup d'état, Abu Ismail was arrested on 5 July 2013. On 14 July 2013 Egypt's prosecutor general Hisham Barakat ordered Ismail's assets to be frozen. His detention was renewed on 17 July 2013 for 15 more days. Abu Ismail appeared in court on 18 November and stated: “If there is no real justice at the court hall, I will cede the defense.” The court adjourned the case to 21 November where it was again adjourned to 19 December 2013. He was sentenced to one year imprisonment on 20 January 2014 for insulting the judiciary.