Amnesty International has intensified its efforts to press the Egyptian government for the release of human rights activists detained under dubious circumstances. The human rights watchdog’s call comes amid a surge in accusations against these activists, charged with crimes such as terrorism and disseminating false news. The catalyst for these legal proceedings appeared to be the activists’ involvement in anti-government protests, according to Amnesty International.
Since December 2024, Egyptian security forces have reportedly disappeared approximately 59 individuals for their online advocacies against government corruption and human rights abuses under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. These activists used platforms such as Facebook and Telegram, under a campaign dubbed the “Revolution of the Joints,” to express their discontent.
Mahmoud Shalaby, an Egypt Researcher at Amnesty International, emphasized the importance of the right to freedom of expression, claiming that citizens must be allowed to dissent without fearing arrest or arbitrary detention. Shalaby disclosed that seven activists were held incommunicado and subjected to maltreatment before the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) formally charged them in February, accusing them of terrorism-related activities. The details of these charges can be found in a report by the Egyptian Front for Human Rights.
Additionally, the Egyptian Human Rights Forum has raised concerns regarding the extended pre-trial detentions of many activists without proper due process. This situation, the Forum asserts, mirrors a broader trend of prolonged and unjustified detentions ahead of Egypt’s UN Universal Periodic Review, further illustrated by similar accusations faced by noted human rights defender Hossam Bahgat, reported by Human Rights Watch.
Despite the risks, Egyptian human rights organizations continue to highlight egregious human rights violations and propose concrete solutions. The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies along with other groups, has urged the Egyptian government to implement reforms, including ending torture in prisons and allowing the International Red Cross unrestricted access to detention facilities for inspections.
As international and local human rights groups amplify their calls for justice, the Egyptian government’s response, or lack thereof, will be carefully monitored by the global community.
The original report on this situation can be read in full on JURIST.