As Egypt faces mounting criticism over its human rights record, a coalition of 22 organizations has called on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to take decisive action. In the wake of the commission’s 85th session, concerns have surfaced about the depiction of Egypt’s human rights landscape, both in the official report and that of the commission’s country rapporteur. These reports allegedly overlook, and in some cases misrepresent, significant human rights abuses.
The official documentation from Egypt, which addresses its human rights track record from 2019 to 2024, denies the existence of detained journalists and prisoners of conscience. It rationalizes the constraints on civil society as improvements for “transparency.” Similarly, the country rapporteur’s report has described the 2023 presidential election as “peaceful” and “competitive,” notwithstanding substantial evidence of repression and the widespread curtailment of assembly, speech, and association. A 2024 visit by the rapporteur to Egypt lacked engagement with independent human rights groups, further drawing criticism. More details about these reports can be found here.
Unbiased documentation, however, paints a starkly contrasting picture. Over the past decade, the Egyptian government has detained numerous peaceful critics, journalists, political figures, and human rights defenders under broad terrorism-related charges. Groups like Amnesty International have reported systematic torture and prolonged detention, utilizing tactics such as repeatedly charging detainees in new cases to extend imprisonment.
Critical websites, both news and civil society platforms, have been blocked, and authorities have quelled small protests and initiated mass arrests in anticipation of larger ones. Notable figures, including blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah and lawyer Hoda Abdel Moneim, face continued incarceration or have been subjected to new charges following previous sentences, as highlighted by the Human Rights Watch.
Structural and legal changes since 2019 have further consolidated state control. Military authority has been expanded, and laws concerning counterterrorism and cybercrime remain broad. A recent draft of the Criminal Procedure Code has faced international backlash for undermining fair-trial provisions and permitting extended detention without adequate judicial oversight, according to reports from Amnesty International.
Historically, the African Commission has highlighted various human rights violations in Egypt, issuing several resolutions since 2015. However, despite these resolutions on issues such as mass death sentences and media restrictions, compliance from Cairo remains lacking. Rights organizations urge the commission to adopt a new resolution reflecting the current situation, pushing for more robust measures to engage the Egyptian government and implement recommendations. There is a call for a dedicated mechanism to follow up on these recommendations and potential alerts to the African Union Peace and Security Council.
The coalition also emphasized that any future sessions of the African Commission in Egypt should be contingent upon assurances that participants can engage safely and without the threat of reprisals. This stance reflects a broader concern over the environment of fear and repression that pervades discussions of human rights within the country.