Amnesty International urges the Egyptian government to release individuals detained for supporting an end to President al-Sisi’s rule. A recent crackdown ahead of the January 2011 revolution anniversary led to the arrest of at least 59 individuals who shared critical content on social media. Detainees suffered weeks of enforced disappearance and torture, highlighting ongoing human rights violations in Egypt.
Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of individuals detained by Egyptian authorities for posting content online advocating an end to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s regime. This crackdown coincided with the anniversary of the 25 January 2011 revolution, a time when repression often escalates to suppress peaceful protests. Since late December 2024, at least 59 people, including four women, were arrested for sharing content from the Facebook page ‘Revolution of the Joints’ and a related Telegram channel, both of which critique the government and call for political change.
The detained individuals were only brought before prosecutors between February 8 and 12, after weeks of enforced disappearance and incommunicado detention, during which many endured physical mistreatment. Mahmoud Shalaby, Egypt Researcher at Amnesty International, emphasized that the government should address the underlying causes of public dissent, such as economic issues, rather than resorting to mass arrests, and insisted that people deserve the right to express their opinions freely without fear of repercussions.
Amnesty International detailed the situations of seven male detainees who were arrested between late December 2024 and mid-January 2025 for their social media posts. Security forces apprehended these men in various locations, including their homes and streets across several governorates. After their arrests, they were subjected to incommunicado detention in National Security Agency facilities for durations of four to six weeks prior to their interrogation.
During their questioning, the detainees were asked about their social lives and motivations for anti-government content, which they attributed to the ongoing economic crisis and rising living costs. They faced terrorism-related charges such as ‘joining a terrorist group,’ ‘spreading false information,’ and ‘inciting terrorism’ while being denied legal representation, and some reported torture during their detention. Prosecutors have not pursued inquiries into these allegations, rendering them complicit in ongoing human rights violations.
This arrest wave marks the second instance within six months in which the Egyptian government has detained individuals for supporting demands for government change. In July 2024, authorities arrested 119 people during online calls for a “Dignity Revolution” amid economic hardships, including protests spurred by price increases and power outages. Such patterns of repression highlight the urgent need for the international community to advocate for human rights and freedoms in Egypt.
The Egyptian government’s recent arrests of individuals advocating for political change reveal a persistent pattern of repression aimed at stifling dissent. Amnesty International’s calls for the release of detainees reflect ongoing concerns over human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances and torture. The international community must remain vigilant and advocate for essential freedoms, urging Egyptian authorities to address the root causes of public discontent instead of resorting to draconian measures.
Original Source: www.amnesty.org
