Authorities prosecuted nonviolent activists and critics who joined thousands of other dissidents already incarcerated in Egypt’s overcrowded jails by using the harsh Emergency State Security Courts more frequently. The number of executions has been drastically increasing as a result of courts handing down death sentences in mass cases. Drastic limitations on independent groups were formalized in the government’s implementing rules for the NGO statute. A well-known gang rape went uninvestigated by the police, and important witnesses who were detained for months in what appeared to be reprisal for country,
Abuse by Police and Security Personnel
Forcibly disappearing numerous people for days or weeks, Interior Ministry police and National Security officers unjustly detained dozens, if not hundreds, of people for nonviolent action. In addition to various types of extrajudicial coercion and summons, National Security officials often forced recently freed activists to report to their offices on a regular basis. Ahmed Samir Santawy, a student at Central European University, was detained by police for five days while under communicado, during which time, according to his attorney, he suffered serious beatings.
The authorities did not look into the many cases of abuse and torture that still occur. After the family of imprisoned dissident Abdelrahman Gamal Metwally al-Showeikh submitted a complaint alleging that al-Showeikh had been subjected to sexual assault and torture in a Minya prison, security authorities detained the dissident’s mother, father, and sister. Hoda Abdel Hamid, his mother, was being held in pretrial detention in a Cairo prison without access to her attorneys or family after prosecutors charged her with “spreading false news” and “joining a terrorist organization” over a Facebook video she had posted about her son’s alleged torture.
Attacks on Human Rights Defenders and Freedom of Association
Authorities closed their investigations against a number of important organizations and defenders in the ten-year Case 173 of 2011, which involved the prosecution of several NGOs for receiving foreign funding, due to pressure from both local and international sources. Nevertheless, despite the judge’s orders in August and September to do so, the asset freezes and harsh travel restrictions remain in place.
The lawsuit still involves a number of additional organizations and employees, such as Hossam Bahgat, head of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, and Gamal Eid, director of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information. Before an Emergency State Security Court, a mass trial was held involving around twenty activists, including lawyer Hoda Abdel Moniem and activist Aisha al-Shater, as well as attorney Ezzat Ghoniem, director of the Egyptian Coordination for Rights and Freedoms. Guards have taken Ghoniem into custody. They are accused of “spreading false news” and of funding and joining an illegal group.
Sexual and Gender-Based Discrimination
Authorities fell short in their efforts to stop and address the pervasive gender-based and sexual violence committed by both state and non-state actors. Men killed four young ladies after they turned down their approaches.
Two months before his fatal stabbing of another student at the University of Mansoura, Nayera Ashraf filed reports of harassment, but the police did not take any action. Authorities brought charges against activists who exposed sexual abuse.
Amal Fathy, an activist who criticized the government for failing to protect women from sexual harassment, was found guilty and given a one-year jail sentence by the Court of Cassation. Journalist Rasha Azab was found guilty by an economic court of “insult” and “defamation” and fined EGP 10,000 (USD 522) for her online expressions of support for victims of sexual assault who released anonymous statements alleging film director Islam Azazi of sexual assault. Due to their actions on social media, authorities brought charges against female social media influencers. At least seven women were still behind bars due to false accusations or morality-related offenses.
Social, Economic, And Health Rights
Authorities clamped down on companies and employees by abusing anti-terrorism legislation. Three employees of an electrical appliance firm in western Cairo were taken into custody by National Security officers for taking part in a sit-in. A week after bringing terrorism-related accusations against them, Supreme State Security prosecutors freed them, according to the independent Center for Trade Union and Workers Services. Famous businessman Safwan Thabet and his son Seif Thabet were detained by the police in December 2020 and February 2021, respectively, on suspicions of terrorism and held in conditions tantamount to torture while awaiting trial. According to their relatives, they were arrested because they refused to give over control of their company’s assets when asked by security personnel.
In conclusion, In the pretense of combating Wilayat Sinai, a local branch of the Islamic State, the army persisted in placing harsh restrictions on travel and demolishing hundreds of structures in North Sinai (also known as ISIS). It’s possible that these demolitions constitute war crimes.