Egypt’s Crackdown on Pro-Palestine Solidarity: A Wave of Arbitrary Arrests and Allegations of Abuse
In a sweeping campaign against dissent, Egyptian authorities have detained over 123 individuals for expressing solidarity with Palestine, according to Amnesty International and Egyptian human rights groups. This crackdown, spanning seven months, targets peaceful protesters, online commentators, and even those who have displayed pro-Palestine slogans. The arrests coincide with the escalation of violence in Gaza and underscore the Egyptian government’s increasing intolerance of any criticism of its policies, particularly its role in the closure of the Rafah crossing.
The detainees, at least 95 of whom remain in pre-trial detention, face a litany of bogus charges, ranging from terrorism involvement and spreading false news to illegal assembly. These charges, often levied without substantial evidence, serve as a pretext to silence voices critical of the government’s stance on the Palestinian issue. The crackdown paints a grim picture of shrinking civic space in Egypt, where even expressions of solidarity are met with harsh repression.
Among the disturbing allegations emerging from this wave of arrests are complaints of sexual assault and harassment against police officers. A group of women protesters, detained and later released on bail, filed a formal complaint detailing these abuses. Despite the gravity of these allegations, prosecutors have yet to launch an investigation, raising concerns about accountability and the systemic failure to address police misconduct.
Amnesty International has condemned the Egyptian government’s actions, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arbitrarily detained. The organization emphasizes that the detainees were merely exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. They have further urged independent and impartial investigations into the reports of sexual violence and other abuses, emphasizing the need to hold perpetrators accountable.
The arrests documented by Amnesty International and local human rights groups highlight a pattern of targeted repression. Students, activists, and even passersby have been swept up in this campaign, often based on flimsy evidence gleaned from social media posts, participation in student groups, or the display of banners and slogans. The arbitrary nature of these detentions underscores the government’s disregard for due process and fundamental human rights.
Several cases exemplify the arbitrary nature of these arrests. Two students, Mazen Daraz and Ziad Basiouny, were detained for their involvement in a student group supporting Palestine. They were accused of “joining a terrorist group” and “publishing false news” based on the group’s social media posts calling for boycotts of Israeli products and criticizing the Egyptian government’s policies. Similarly, six individuals in Alexandria were arrested for hanging a banner calling for the opening of the Rafah crossing. These cases illustrate how the Egyptian authorities conflate peaceful activism with terrorism, using unsubstantiated charges to silence dissent. The arbitrary detention of these individuals, often held incommunicado and subjected to interrogations without access to legal counsel, further underscores the government’s disregard for due process.
Several detainees have reported experiencing ill-treatment and abuse in custody, including being blindfolded, handcuffed, and subjected to prolonged interrogations. These allegations, coupled with the reports of sexual violence against female detainees, raise serious concerns about the prevalence of torture and other ill-treatment within Egyptian detention facilities. The failure of the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) to investigate these complaints further compounds the problem, suggesting a systemic lack of accountability for police misconduct.
The crackdown on pro-Palestine solidarity in Egypt is not an isolated incident. It follows a broader pattern of repression against human rights defenders, activists, and journalists. The Egyptian government’s intolerance of dissent has created a chilling effect on freedom of expression, limiting the space for peaceful activism and critical voices. This crackdown on pro-Palestine solidarity is a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights crisis in Egypt and the urgent need for international pressure to ensure respect for fundamental freedoms. The international community must hold the Egyptian government accountable for its actions and demand an end to the arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment, and suppression of peaceful dissent.
The case of the women’s rights defenders who organized a peaceful protest in Cairo further highlights the Egyptian authorities’ intolerance of dissent. The violent dispersal of the protest, the arbitrary detention of the participants, and the subsequent allegations of sexual assault and harassment underscore the risks faced by those who dare to speak out against the government’s policies. The failure of the authorities to investigate these allegations reinforces a culture of impunity and sends a chilling message to other activists and human rights defenders.
The Egyptian government’s actions stand in stark contrast to its own rhetoric of supporting the Palestinian people. While state officials have expressed solidarity with Palestinians, their actions on the ground tell a different story. The closure of the Rafah crossing, the crackdown on pro-Palestine protests, and the arbitrary detention of activists demonstrate a clear disconnect between words and deeds.
The international community must not remain silent in the face of this ongoing repression. Governments and international organizations must exert pressure on the Egyptian authorities to release all those arbitrarily detained, investigate the allegations of abuse, and guarantee the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Failing to do so will only embolden the Egyptian government to continue its crackdown on dissent and further erode human rights in the country.
The ongoing human rights crisis in Egypt requires a sustained and coordinated international response. Targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for human rights violations, restrictions on arms sales, and diplomatic pressure are crucial tools to hold the Egyptian government accountable. It is essential for the international community to stand in solidarity with Egyptian human rights defenders and activists and demand an end to the repression. The future of human rights in Egypt depends on it. Only through sustained pressure and advocacy can the international community hope to bring about positive change and ensure respect for fundamental freedoms in the country.