Human rights organizations have called on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to take immediate action regarding Egypt’s escalating human rights issues. This plea comes after the commission’s 85th session, where both the Egyptian government and the commission’s country rapporteur presented reports that many rights groups argue mischaracterized or ignored significant abuses.
The Egyptian government’s official report, spanning from 2019 to 2024, dismissed the existence of detained journalists and prisoners of conscience, framing restrictions on civil society as necessary for promoting “transparency.” Similarly, the country rapporteur’s report neglected to mention widespread violations and characterized the 2023 presidential election as “peaceful” and “competitive,” despite extensive evidence of repression, the prosecution of potential candidates, and the effective criminalization of peaceful assembly, expression, and association.
Concerns Over Misrepresentation
Critics have raised concerns about the commission’s failure to accurately reflect the reality on the ground. A planned 2024 “familiarization visit” by the rapporteur was met with criticism as it did not include meetings with independent Egyptian human rights organizations. In contrast, outside reports reveal a starkly different picture of Egypt’s human rights landscape.
Over the past decade, Egyptian authorities have imprisoned thousands of peaceful critics, journalists, political figures, and human rights defenders under broad terrorism and “false news” charges. Rights groups and United Nations mechanisms have documented ongoing patterns of enforced disappearances, systematic torture, and prolonged pretrial detention, often perpetuated by the “rotation” of detainees into new cases with similar allegations.
Authorities have curtailed media freedom by blocking hundreds of news and civil society websites. They have also dispersed small demonstrations and conducted preemptive mass arrests ahead of anticipated protests related to economic conditions and public discontent over electricity outages and the government’s handling of regional conflicts.
Notable figures such as blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah, lawyer Hoda Abdel Moneim, and political challenger Ahmed Tantawy remain imprisoned or face renewed charges, despite having served prior sentences. Structural changes since 2019 have further consolidated security powers, with constitutional amendments expanding military authority. Laws on counterterrorism and cybercrime remain overly broad, and a draft Criminal Procedure Code has drawn international criticism for undermining fair trial protections and enabling prolonged detention without meaningful judicial oversight.
Call for Accountability and Action
Rights organizations emphasize the lack of accountability for deaths in custody, torture allegations, and past incidents, including mass killings of protesters. The African Commission has previously issued multiple resolutions finding Egypt in violation of the African Charter, citing issues such as mass death sentences and restrictions on journalists. However, no new resolution has been adopted since 2015, despite the deteriorating situation.
The coalition of rights groups urges the commission to adopt a new resolution that accurately reflects the current conditions in Egypt. They are calling for stronger public engagement, immediate appeals to the Egyptian government, and a dedicated follow-up mechanism under Rule 112 to monitor the implementation of recommendations. They also warn that the ongoing patterns of arbitrary detention and abuse may necessitate the use of the commission’s early-warning powers to inform the African Union Peace and Security Council.
Furthermore, any proposal to hold a future session of the African Commission in Egypt must include verifiable guarantees that all participants, including domestic critics, can enter, participate, and leave the country without fear of intimidation or reprisals. The urgent nature of this situation highlights the need for immediate and effective action to safeguard human rights in Egypt.
