Amnesty International urges the release of Egyptian detainees arrested for opposing President al-Sisi’s regime online, highlighting severe human rights violations. Since December 2024, at least 59 individuals have been detained ahead of the revolution’s anniversary. Reports of torture and ill-treatment during incarceration raise serious concerns regarding freedom of expression in Egypt and call for accountability of security forces.
Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of individuals arbitrarily detained in Egypt for expressing opposition to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s regime online. This crackdown intensified ahead of the anniversary of the 25 January 2011 revolution, as the government seeks to suppress peaceful protests by detaining critics. Since late December 2024, at least 59 individuals, including four women, have been arrested for engaging with the Facebook and Telegram page “Revolution of the Joints,” which advocates for political reform.
The Egyptian authorities extended enforced disappearances and incommunicado detentions to many detainees before finally presenting them before prosecutors from 8 to 12 February. Reports indicate that several detainees endured physical abuse during this period. Mahmoud Shalaby, an Egypt researcher for Amnesty International, criticized the government for its repressive tactics rather than addressing socio-economic grievances driving the unrest.
Detainees reported that security officials interrogated them about their social lives, political opinions, and motivations for calling for governmental change, largely stemming from significant economic challenges. Terrorism-related charges brought against them included allegations of joining a terrorist group and inciting violence. All seven men remain detained pending further investigation, their freedom restricted under serious accusations.
During their interrogations, detainees described being subjected to ill-treatment, including verbal abuse and physical torture. Notably, claims of electric shocks have gone uninvestigated by the prosecutors, raising concerns about collusion between the judiciary and security forces. Shalaby emphasized that without accountability, abuses such as enforced disappearances and torture are likely to persist, reinforcing a cycle of human rights violations.
This incident marks the second significant wave of arrests for anti-government expressions since July 2024, when 119 individuals were detained for calls for a “Dignity Revolution” amidst rising living costs and power outages. The ongoing repression raises alarming questions about the limitations placed on freedom of expression and assembly in Egypt, as dissent against the government increasingly leads to severe repercussions.
In conclusion, the arbitrary detainment of individuals in Egypt for their online criticism of the government underscores significant human rights violations. Amnesty International’s calls for the release of these detainees, alongside the disclosure of the cruelty they suffered, highlight broader issues of repression under President al-Sisi’s administration. Continued governmental oppression amid economic struggles raises critical concerns regarding the future of civil liberties in the country.
Original Source: www.amnesty.org
