Egypt Human Rights

Human Rights Concerns

The human rights situation in Egypt remains poor. Amnesty International has long-standing concerns on systematic torture, deaths of prisoners in custody, unfair trials, arrests of prisoners of conscience for their political and religious beliefs or for their sexual orientation, wide use of administrative detention and long-term detention without trial and use of the death penalty. In addition, AI is concerned that armed opposition groups have renewed attacks on civilians.

Despite the difficult human rights environment, political reformers and human rights defenders in Egypt have made their voice heard. One of Amnesty's priorities in Egypt is to create space for the defenders to do their important work.  A new Amnesty International report, Challenging Repression, details numerous cases that highlight the precarious situation of human rights defenders in the Middle East and North Africa.  Click here for an Amnesty statement in support of peaceful protesters arrested April 7.

Bloggers in particular have been active in alerting the world to human rights abuses. The Egyptian government has responded by arresting two prominent bloggers, Karim Amer and Abdel Moneim Mahmoud who have been declared prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International.

Amnesty International is also concerned that the war on terror is hindering human rights in Egypt. The country has been in a State of Emergency since 1981, and despite minor reforms, State of Emergency legislation continues to give the government significant powers to use special courts, detain political prisoners and limit speech. In at least two cases, American intelligence officials have allegedly been linked to illegal renditions of Egyptians back to the country, where they have been allegedly tortured. The report, "Egypt - Systematic abuses in the name of security" highlights the impact on human rights in Egypt of the government's counter terrorism measures and the decades-long state of emergency.

Egypt: Further restrictions of civil society looming

Amnesty International is concerned that Egyptian civil society continues to face increasing harassment, as one of the oldest human rights organizations in the country is up for possible dissolution and as the Egyptian authorities are preparing new amendments to further restrict the activities of on non-governmental organizations. Click here for more.

Concern over pattern of reckless policing

Against the backdrop of recent killings during police operations, Amnesty International deplores the increasing use of excessive force by police and security forces in Egypt when carrying out search operations, seeking to disperse protestors or patrolling the Egyptian borders, which have often led to deaths. The organization fears that this pattern of killings and excessive use of force will continue unless those responsible are brought to justice and clear instruction and adequate training is given to police and security forces.  For more information, click here.

Egypt: Call for Immediate Release of Jailed Blogger Karim Amer
In February 2007, Egyptian blogger Karim Amer was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for the "crime" of publishing on the internet material critical of Islam and President Mubarak. » More actions

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