Amnesty International Calls for the Release of Detainees in Egypt Amid Repression
Amnesty International calls for the immediate release of detained individuals in Egypt who are facing terrorism-related charges solely for advocating political change against President Sisi. The crackdown, particularly around the anniversary of the 2011 revolution, has seen over 59 arrests, amidst allegations of torture and denial of rights. The organization urges the Egyptian government to address the underlying economic issues rather than suppress dissent.
Egyptian authorities are urged to promptly release numerous individuals who have been arbitrarily detained under terrorism-related charges merely for expressing support for the cessation of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s regime. Amnesty International highlighted this crackdown, which escalated around the anniversary of the 2011 revolution, geared towards quelling peaceful protests.
Since late December 2024, security forces have apprehended at least 59 individuals, amongst them four women, for sharing content from the Facebook page “Revolution of the Joints” alongside similar communications on a Telegram channel. These platforms criticize President Sisi’s government and advocate for political reform. The detained individuals remained incommunicado before being presented to prosecutors between February 8 and 12, following weeks of enforced disappearance.
Mahmoud Shalaby, an Egypt Researcher at Amnesty International, criticized the authorities for their preemptive arrests instead of addressing the root causes of public discontent such as economic struggles. He stated, “It is incredible how the government has the audacity to lock people up for complaining about its failure to guarantee people’s economic, social and cultural rights amid a deteriorating standard of living.”
Amnesty International documented the experiences of seven men arrested between December 23, 2024, and January 16, 2025, due to social media posts. They were detained across various governorates, and following their arrests, they were taken to the National Security Agency (NSA) facilities where they experienced incommunicado detention for up to six weeks before being presented to the Supreme State Security Prosecution.
The detainees faced interrogations concerning their political beliefs and the motivations behind their online advocacy for governmental change. Many cited the difficult economic climate as the driving force behind their posts, which led to terrorism-related charges such as “joining a terrorist group” and “spreading false news.”
During their interrogations, detainees reported harsh treatment, including beatings and other forms of torture without legal representation. Despite claims of abuse, SSSP prosecutors failed to initiate any investigations into these allegations. Mahmoud Shalaby emphasized that without accountability, violations such as enforced disappearances and torture will persist.
In summary, Egyptian authorities have intensified their crackdown on dissent by arbitrarily detaining individuals who oppose President al-Sisi’s administration through social media expressions. As Amnesty International underscores, this reflects a broader issue of repression rooted in the government’s unwillingness to engage with the economic grievances of its citizens. There is an urgent need for reforms to uphold citizens’ rights to free expression and to address the prevailing economic hardships that drive public dissent.
Original Source: www.amnesty.org
