Civic space violations in Egypt under review

General Update

The fourth cycle Universal Periodic Review session of Egypt on 28th January 2025 was another occasion to further highlight the restricted civic space situation in the country, particularly by civil society organisations advocating for human rights. As reported by Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, torture; "recycling" of detainees; political prisoners; enforced disappearances; enactment of abusive laws on criminal procedure, asylum, and associations; crackdowns on journalists and rights defenders; women's rights; inadequate social spending, and other systematic human rights violations in Egypt were all highlighted during the session, resulting in over 370 recommendations submitted to the Egyptian government. Several civil society groups engaged in the process, submitting joint submissions and advocacy statements on the deterioration of the human rights situation, called on the government to take effective measures for improvement. Ahead of the session, calls by UN experts were no different, as they expressed concern on the application of anti-terrorism legislation in Egypt to imprison human rights defenders. The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders noted that “Although there has been some progress with the release of some detainees and the development of a national human rights strategy, Egypt persists in routinely misusing counter-terrorism legislation and recycling criminal charges against human rights defenders.”

Civil society groups stressed on the restrictive legislative framework, for instance, on the draft criminal code and its threat to the right to privacy, and hampering freedom of expression and opinion as well as media freedoms.

* Articles 79 and 80 of the draft Code confer vague and broad discretionary powers to investigating judges to issue an order, for a period not exceeding 30 days (which may be renewed indefinitely in 30-day increments), that would permit the authorities to seize communications, letters, telegrams, newspapers, publications, and parcels; and to monitor the wired and wireless communications of individuals, their social media accounts, including private content, as well as emails and messages stored on phones and devices when it is beneficial for uncovering the truth in a felony or a misdemeanour punishable by more than three months of imprisonment.

*Under the proposed draft Code, judges could also order the seizure of such phones, mobile devices, websites, or any other technological means; record private conversations if deemed necessary for investigations; or put devices and online accounts under state surveillance if the suspected acts are related to crimes cited in Article 116 (bis) related to intentional harm to public property or entrusted interests by public servants, and Article 308 (bis) related to defamation and insult via phone calls.

Expression

On 19th January 2025, the executive director of the EIPR, Hossam Bahgat, received a summons to appear before the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) for question in relation to charges against him on alleged involvement with and financing a terrorist group and publishing false news.

He was released on bail set at EGP 20,000 (USD 396) pending investigation. During the interrogation which lasted over three hours, Bahgat was questioned about a statement published by EIPR calling on the Prosecutor General to investigate claims of deteriorating detention conditions.

On 16th January 2025, the Supreme State Security Prosecution issued a 15-day detention order for Zat Masr broadcaster and writer Ahmed Serag on allegations of joining a terrorist organisation, committing a terrorism financing crime, and using his social media account to spread false news. The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) issued a statement noting that “the targeting of Serag comes within the framework of a general context in which the pace of detention of journalists and clampdown on press freedom has recently increased.” On 9th February 2025, his detention was renewed for 15 days pending investigations.