CFJ is participating today, 23 June 2023, in a side event of the Human Rights Council 53rd session, organized by the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and CCPR-Centre, titled: “Ten years of repression in Egypt”.
Effective participation by CFJ
Under the title “Ten years of oppression in Egypt”, the Executive Director of CFJ, Ahmed Mefreh, is participating in the event that aims to bring together human rights defenders from Egypt, UN experts and States representatives to collectively reflect on the human rights crisis in Egypt.
Under the presidency of Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, following the overthrow of late president Mohamed Morsi and the subsequent arrest of Muslim Brotherhood leaders, Egypt has witnessed an ongoing and exacerbating human rights crisis. The regime has enacted numerous laws since 2013 that not only legitimize repressive practices but also perpetuate human rights violations and foster a culture of impunity.
65,000 political prisoners in Egypt:
In recent years, Egyptian authorities have increasingly employed repressive methods, including prolonged pretrial detention, enforced disappearances, and judicial harassment, to suppress protests and silence dissenting voices. This includes investigations lacking any basis in charges related to national security.
The number of political prisoners in Egypt from 2013 to 2021 has reached nearly 65,000. Tens of thousands of individuals, including activists, political figures, journalists, students, lawyers, members of civil society organizations, as well as human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, are still arbitrarily detained in Egypt.
Recommendations to stakeholders:
The event aims to present tangible recommendations to relevant stakeholders, including United Nations member states, UN agencies, and the international community, to address widespread human rights violations, gender discrimination, torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, as well as to support and protect civil society and human rights defenders in Egypt more effectively.
The event will consist of an interactive panel discussion to provide a comprehensive understanding of the human rights crisis in Egypt, followed by an interactive question-and-answer session with the audience. Speakers will include human rights defenders, representatives of civil society, and individuals directly affected by repression in Egypt. The event will be conducted in English.
