Egyptian authorities have launched into a renewed crackdown on peaceable dissent, by means of arbitrary detentions and politically-motivated felony investigations, whereas getting ready to defend the nation’s human rights file through the Common Interval Evaluate by the UN on 28 January, Amnesty Worldwide mentioned at this time.
In January alone, authorities ramped up their concentrating on of a number of critics. A felony investigation was opened in opposition to famend human rights defender Hossam Bahgat, whereas outstanding opposition politician and writer Hisham Kassem realized for the primary time a few felony investigation in opposition to him, which had been initiated the earlier 12 months. In the meantime, Nada Mogheeth, partner of detained cartoonist Ashraf Omar, was arrested in reference to an interview she gave with journalist Ahmed Serag, who was himself arrested the day earlier than for a similar interview. TikToker Mohamed Allam, referred to as Rivaldo, was additionally arrested over viral movies important of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
“It’s a stark irony that the Egyptian authorities launched this crackdown simply forward of its look earlier than the Human Rights Council. The federal government is sending a crystal clear message that it has no intention of tolerating any type of dissent or bettering its abysmal human rights file,” mentioned Mahmoud Shalaby, Egypt Researcher at Amnesty Worldwide.
“The crackdown additionally coincides with the lead as much as the anniversary of the 25 January Revolution of 2011, a interval marked 12 months after 12 months by relentless concentrating on of precise or suspected dissidents in an try by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s authorities to forestall any protests or commemorations.”
Politically-motivated felony investigations
On 15 January, the Supreme State Safety Prosecution (SSSP) summoned Hossam Bahgat, govt director of the Egyptian Initiative for Private Rights (EIPR), for questioning on 19 January. Prosecutors opened an investigation into him on costs of “spreading false information” and “aiding and funding a terrorist group.” The latter offence is punishable by a life sentence or the loss of life penalty.
Hossam Bahgat instructed Amnesty Worldwide that prosecutors questioned him for 4 hours in regards to the institution of EIPR, its work and funding. In addition they grilled him about an EIPR assertion – which had prompted a menace of authorized motion from the Ministry of Inside – about deteriorating detention circumstances at tenth of Ramadan jail. He was launched on EGP 20,000 bail (round USD 398), however the felony investigation in opposition to him stays open.
Prosecutors instructed Hossam Bahgat that the costs stem from a number of complaints filed by common residents, in addition to from the Nationwide Safety Company (NSA). He instructed Amnesty Worldwide that prosecutors refused to permit him or his legal professionals to assessment these complaints. Prosecutors solely learn one line to him from the NSA’s investigations, which accused Hossam Bahgat of “receiving directions from overseas organizations and proactive components to unfold rumours and false info with a purpose to undermining state establishments, disturbing public order, and spreading concern amongst residents”.
On 2 January, Hisham Kassem realized by means of information web sites that he has a listening to scheduled for 9 February in a brand new felony case on costs of “defamation” and “intentional disturbance.” These costs are associated to his similar social media put up for which he was unjustly convicted, sentenced and imprisoned in 2024. Within the put up from 29 July 2023, Hisham Kassem referred to alleged corruption by two former authorities ministers. His lawyer, Nasser Amin, instructed Amnesty Worldwide that Hisham Kassem was by no means notified in regards to the new case, which was initiated by a grievance filed by one of many former ministers on 16 September 2023. The court docket held a listening to for the brand new case on 11 December 2023 with out informing Hisham Kassem.
Authorities critics detained
On 16 January, two males in plain garments arrested Nada Mogheeth at her residence with out presenting an arrest warrant. In line with a lawyer who attended her interrogations, the SSSP prosecutors opened an investigation in opposition to her on costs of “becoming a member of a terrorist group” and “spreading false information.” These costs are associated to a media interview she gave in December 2024 to Ahmed Serag, a journalist on the unbiased web site Zat Masr, by which she mentioned the case of her detained husband, Ashraf Omar, who was arrested due to his media work. Prosecutors launched her on EGP 5,000 bail.
The day gone by, safety forces had arrested Ahmed Serag at his office in Cairo. In line with his lawyer, SSSP prosecutors opened an investigation in opposition to him on costs of “becoming a member of a terrorist group,” “utilizing the Zat Masr web site to advertise the group’s concepts,” “spreading false information,” and “commissioning against the law associated to funding terrorism.” Amnesty Worldwide realized that the NSA accused Ahmed Serag of “receiving directions from provocative leaders exterior the nation to hold out a hostile plan in opposition to the state”. He stays detained at tenth of Ramadan Jail.
On 11 January, safety forces arrested 24-year-old Mohamed Allam at a relative’s home in Giza governorate. Within the weeks prior, Allam had posted a number of movies on TikTok important of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. In one of many movies, reviewed by Amnesty Worldwide, he acknowledged that “al-Sisi and his authorities are afraid of an rebellion” and listed a number of points he claimed had been brought on by the federal government, together with the “damage of schooling and the economic system,” in addition to the detention of people merely for expressing their views.
Safety forces introduced Mohamed Allam earlier than the SSSP on 20 January, after they forcibly disappeared for greater than every week at an NSA facility in Giza. SSSP prosecutors investigated him on costs of “becoming a member of a terrorist group,” “inciting the fee of terrorist crimes,” and “spreading false information.” Mohamed Allam instructed prosecutors that NSA brokers subjected him to electrical shocks, beatings, and saved him blindfolded, in accordance with his lawyer Nabeh Elganadi. Prosecutors referred him for forensic examination primarily based on his assertion. He stays retained at tenth of Ramdan Jail.
Background
Egypt’s human rights file can be examined by the UN Human Rights Council’s Common Periodic Evaluate Working Group on 28 January 2025. In its submission, Amnesty Worldwide highlighted Egypt’s protracted and ongoing human rights and impunity disaster.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty Worldwide.