The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), alongside 14 other press freedom and human rights organizations, has raised significant concerns regarding Egypt’s stance on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. This issue has gained fresh urgency as the EU-Egypt relationship is scheduled for an upgrade to a Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership in March 2024. As part of this progression, the EU promised €5 billion in financial assistance to Egypt, contingent on improvements in key areas, notably human rights.
Although this partnership is portrayed as a positive era, press freedom groups caution that without genuine improvements, this “golden age” may instead turn into a period marked by increasing repression. The concerns arise from continued reports of enforced disappearances, torture, and arbitrary detentions, which include the imprisonment of 18 journalists in 2025. Among those affected is political commentator Ahmed Douma, recently sentenced to prison for his revelations about poor prison conditions. This scenario highlights patterns of excessive control over journalists, human rights defenders, and opposition leaders, as emphasized by CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah, who stated that journalists should not face incarceration for sharing experiences or expressing critical opinions.
Furthermore, the rights groups demand transparency concerning mass graves discovered in Sinai, which could potentially expose extrajudicial executions. These findings reflect an ongoing disregard for the rule of law by Egyptian authorities, amid accusations of unfair trials, denial of due process, and practices contravening both national and international legal norms. The result is an atmosphere where the National Human Rights Strategy is perceived as largely symbolic, echoing concerns already highlighted by Amnesty International in their examination of serious human rights violations, including unlawful killings and mass arbitrary detentions.
CPJ and its partners are urging the EU to leverage its relationship with Egypt to encourage substantive reforms. This is particularly relevant ahead of the EU-Egypt Association Council meeting on June 15, where the partnership will undergo a critical review. The goal is to ensure that this opportunity is not lost in compelling Egypt to honor its commitments to human rights.
In the broader scheme, these issues are symptomatic of persistent threats to journalists and media freedom across the Middle East and North Africa region. The historical context of the EU-Egypt Association Agreement, in place since June 2004, underscores these challenges within a longstanding, complex relationship JURIST.