Amnesty International is urging the Egyptian government to release activists detained for social media posts criticizing the regime. The organization highlights brutal treatment and unlawful charges against these individuals. Many remain in detention without due process, and human rights organizations continue to advocate for reform and accountability.
Amnesty International has urged the Egyptian government to release human rights activists who have been arbitrarily detained and face unlawful prosecutions. These activists are accused of terrorism, spreading false information, and participating in anti-government demonstrations. The organization reported that since December 2024, around 59 individuals have been forcibly disappeared for advocating against human rights violations and corruption under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s regime.
Social media platforms have become a space for expressing dissent, with activists sharing their views through a Facebook page and a Telegram channel named “Revolution of the Joints.” Mahmoud Shalaby, an Egypt researcher at Amnesty International, emphasized that citizens must be permitted to voice their opinions about the government without fearing arrest or detention.
Among the detained, seven activists were held incommunicado, experiencing abuse until they were formally charged by the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) on February 8. These charges include joining a terrorist group and funding terrorism. Amnesty reported that families seeking information about their detained relatives faced denying responses from authorities who refused to share details about their locations.
Furthermore, legal representatives of the detained revealed that these activists were subjected to severe interrogational torture, including blindfolding and electrocuting. The Egyptian Human Rights Forum has also reported that numerous political opponents continue to face prolonged pre-trial detentions without fair legal processes, as detention periods are repeatedly renewed.
Ahead of the UN Universal Periodic Review, arbitrary detentions of human rights advocates persist, with several activists confronted with terrorism-related allegations. Concerns have escalated regarding prominent rights defender Hossam Bahgat, who is facing similar charges, causing alarm among international monitoring groups.
Despite fears of retaliation, Egyptian human rights organizations remain steadfast in their advocacy for justice and democracy. The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies noted that 12 rights organizations have submitted recommendations to the Egyptian government to address human rights issues, demanding the cessation of torture in prisons and allowing inspection by the International Red Cross Committee.
Amnesty International’s call for the release of arbitrarily detained activists highlights ongoing human rights violations in Egypt. The government’s crackdown on dissent and the harrowing conditions faced by prisoners illustrate the broader systemic issues. Continuous international scrutiny is pivotal in advocating for the rights and freedoms of the Egyptian populace.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
