Human rights expert: Concern about the use of the anti-terrorism law in Egypt against human rights defenders

In a press statement, the independent human rights expert* said that despite some progress regarding the release of some detainees and the development of a national human rights strategy, “Egypt continues to routinely abuse the anti-terrorism law and recycle criminal charges against human rights defenders.” .

added: “What is particularly striking is the continued detention of human rights defenders beyond their release date by repeatedly charging them with similar – if not identical – terrorism-related charges, in a practice known as rotation.”.

The Special Rapporteur had previously expressed her concerns in this regard in 22 letters sent to the Government of Egypt since May 2020. She highlighted Human Rights Committee Highlighting the practice of “cycling” in its concluding observations on Egypt’s latest review in March 2023.

Three issues

The Special Rapporteur expressed in particular concern about the use of the practice of rotation to detain three human rights defenders for long periods of time.

Lawlor said: “It is astonishing that instead of being released at the end of her five-year sentence on 1 November 2023, human rights lawyer Hoda Abdel Moneim was detained again on new charges. One year later, she was charged with a third set of charges. She now faces “Two new trials, where one of the new charges – joining an unnamed terrorist organization – is identical to the one for which she completed her sentence in 2023, in violation of the principle of non-trial.”.

The statement explained that in November 2024, the same terrorism-related charge was brought against another human rights defender, Aisha Al-Shater, who was tried in the same case with Hoda Abdel Moneim. This charge is also identical to the charge for which she is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence.

In a third case, human rights defender and lawyer Ibrahim Metwally was arbitrarily detained without trial for more than four years. He was arrested in 2017 at Cairo Airport, while on his way to Geneva for a meeting The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.

Although the Cairo Criminal Court twice ordered his conditional release, he was repeatedly accused of committing new terrorism-related offences, one of which he supposedly committed in prison. And he found Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Earlier, Metwally’s detention was arbitrary, and he indicated that it amounted to an act of revenge due to cooperation with the United Nations.

Lawlor said “It is outrageous that Mr. Metwally is facing trial in three cases, including a case of conspiracy with foreign entities, which appear to relate to his cooperation with the United Nations and his peaceful human rights work in Egypt prior to his arrest.”.

Poor detention conditions

The Special Rapporteur noted that the poor prison conditions in which the three human rights defenders are being held are equally worrying. The human rights defenders have suffered from health problems since the beginning of their detention and have reportedly been denied appropriate medical treatment despite the severity of their condition, which may amount to physical and psychological ill-treatment.

The legal expert said: “It is unacceptable for prison authorities to refuse recommended surgery, prevent a detainee from being transferred to hospital, or withhold medical records from the detainee’s family and lawyers.”.

Lawlor explained that she is in contact with the Egyptian authorities regarding this issue, urging them to fulfill their international obligations in the field of human rights, which they must abide by.

This report was supported by:

• Gabriela Citrone (Chair and Rapporteur), Grazyna Baranowska (Vice-Chair), Oa Balde, Ana Lorena Delgadio Pérez and Mohamed Al-Obaidi of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
• Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.
• Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights.

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*It is noteworthy that special rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Human Rights Council in Geneva, which is an international body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights around the world. Rapporteurs and experts are tasked with studying human rights situations and submitting reports on them to the Human Rights Council. It should be noted that this position is honorary, and these experts are not considered employees of the United Nations and do not receive compensation for their work.