United Nations human rights experts have urged the Egyptian government to lift restrictions imposed on human rights defenders who have recently been released from detention. These restrictions, which include travel bans and frozen assets, violate international human rights standards and hinder the ability of these individuals to reintegrate into society after serving their sentences or receiving presidential pardons.
The special rapporteurs highlighted the cases of Gasser Abdel Razek, Karim Ennarah, and Mohamed Bashir, all members of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). Arrested in November 2020, they have appealed their asset freezes, which are guaranteed under Egyptian law, but have not yet seen any success. Additionally, they raised concerns about human rights lawyer Mohamed El-Baqer, who remains listed on Egypt’s terrorism watchlist despite receiving a presidential pardon in 2023 after spending five years in prison. Similar circumstances apply to Samir Abdel-Hai, who was arrested in early 2021, pardoned in summer 2022, yet still faces a travel ban and is classified as a “threat to national security.”
The experts criticized the Egyptian authorities for criminalizing these individuals under vague counterterrorism laws. They stated, “These human rights defenders were criminalized under vague counterterrorism laws… They should not continue to face restrictions.” This situation raises significant concerns regarding Egypt’s compliance with international legal obligations, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits arbitrary detention, and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, which similarly protects against arbitrary detention.
The appeal from UN experts comes at a time when Egypt faces broader allegations of systemic human rights violations. Reports in recent years have highlighted issues such as torture, arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on freedom of expression, including the prosecution of journalists and widespread censorship.
These ongoing concerns reflect a troubling pattern in Egypt’s approach to human rights, raising questions about the country’s commitment to upholding international norms. The call from UN experts serves not only as a reminder of the challenges faced by human rights defenders in Egypt but also emphasizes the need for urgent reforms to ensure that civil liberties are respected and protected.
