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Egypt: CFJ Commends the UN Special Rapporteur’s Statement on 3 Human Rights Defenders, Calls for an End to the Use of Anti-Terrorism Laws as a Tool of Repression

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The “Committee for Justice” (CFJ) stated that UN mechanisms play a crucial role in pressuring repressive regimes to alleviate injustices against victims. These mechanisms help inform the international community about atrocities committed by such regimes, shedding light on violations that may escape the attention of local media. The committee emphasized that these mechanisms are not limited to issuing reports or statements; they also contribute to the precise monitoring and documentation of violations, providing a foundation for accountability and legal redress at both the local and international levels. The committee added that UN efforts in this field aid in achieving justice for victims and enhance the chances of addressing injustices, particularly in cases where achieving justice through national judicial systems is difficult due to political pressure or domestic repression.

This came in response to a statement by Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, regarding the situation of certain human rights defenders in Egypt. In her statement, she expressed grave concern over the continued misuse of counterterrorism laws in Egypt as a tool for repressing human rights defenders. This statement was partly a result of efforts by CFJ in collaboration with various UN mechanisms to address injustices against victims, as the committee has submitted multiple complaints about the cases of the human rights defenders highlighted in Lawlor’s statement.

In her statement, Lawlor noted that while Egypt has made some progress in human rights—such as releasing some detainees and developing a national human rights strategy—it continues to systematically abuse counterterrorism legislation. She highlighted that Egyptian authorities persist in leveling similar or identical terrorism-related charges against political detainees after their prison terms expire, a practice known as “recycling” or “renewing” charges.

Lawlor explained that these practices constitute serious violations of the fundamental rights of human rights defenders, as their detention periods are extended through the repeated issuance of illegal and identical charges, despite the completion of their sentences. She added that such practices flagrantly violate the principle of “ne bis in idem” (protection against double jeopardy), which is a cornerstone of international human rights law. She further noted that these actions reveal a deliberate policy by Egyptian authorities to suppress freedom of expression and civil activity in the country.

“What is particularly concerning,” Lawlor said, “is that human rights defenders such as Hoda Abdel Moneim, Aisha al-Shater, and Ibrahim Metwally, who have spent long periods in prison, are being detained again under similar or identical terrorism-related charges. This suggests a systematic policy aimed at keeping these individuals in prolonged detention without the possibility of a fair trial or access to justice.”

In more detail, the Special Rapporteur highlighted alarming reports about the case of Hoda Abd El-Moneim, a lawyer and human rights defender, who was detained again after completing her prison term on November 1, 2023. New charges identical to those for which she had already served her sentence in 2023 were brought against her, accusing her of joining an “unspecified terrorist organization.” These new charges violate the principle of “ne bis in idem”. Lawlor noted that such measures not only restrict the freedom of human rights defenders but also undermine their right to a fair trial in line with international standards.

Similarly, Lawlor noted that human rights defender Aisha Al-Shater faces the same treatment, as identical terrorism-related charges were brought against her in November 2024. These charges mirror those under which she is currently serving a ten-year prison sentence. This systematic misuse of repressive legislation against human rights defenders in Egypt is deeply troubling, Lawlor stated.

In a third case, Lawlor shed light on Ibrahim Metwally, a lawyer and human rights defender, who was arrested in 2017 at Cairo Airport while attempting to travel to Geneva to meet with the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. Despite two conditional release orders from the Cairo Criminal Court, Egyptian authorities repeatedly brought new terrorism-related charges against him, including alleged offenses committed while he was in prison. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention previously deemed his detention arbitrary and described it as retaliatory for his cooperation with the United Nations.

The Special Rapporteur added that these practices reflect a violent and persistent effort to suppress human rights defenders, who face continuous legal challenges and fabricated charges aimed at obstructing their legitimate human rights work. She emphasized that Metwally’s arbitrary detention and prosecution in three different cases, including accusations of “conspiring with foreign entities” related to his UN collaboration, represent a flagrant violation of international law.

Lawlor also expressed concern over the dire prison conditions in Egypt, where human rights defenders are detained. Many have suffered severe health issues since their detention, with authorities denying them adequate medical treatment despite the seriousness of their conditions. She noted that it is unacceptable for prison authorities to block recommended surgeries, obstruct detainees’ transfers to hospitals, or withhold medical records from their families and lawyers, constituting severe physical and psychological abuse.

CFJ welcomes the Special Rapporteur’s statement highlighting Egypt’s continued use of counterterrorism legislation to undermine the work of human rights defenders and lawyers. CFJ views these practices as not only blatant violations of international law but also indicative of a systematic effort to silence independent voices working to expose abuses and protect human rights in Egypt.

The committee warns that the Egyptian authorities’ ongoing repression of human rights defenders normalizes the practice of “recycling” charges to keep them detained for extended periods, even after their sentences are served. Instead of respecting the fundamental rights of these individuals, authorities fabricate and repeat charges, in clear violation of the principle of “ne bis in idem”. These practices pose a serious threat not only to the individual rights of human rights defenders but also to freedom of expression and civil liberties in general.

CFJ also expresses deep concern over the deteriorating conditions in Egyptian prisons, where detainees are denied basic rights to appropriate medical care, posing grave risks to their physical and psychological well-being. Reports of denial of surgery, delayed medical treatment, and restricted access to medical records for families and lawyers illustrate a clear intention to break the will of human rights defenders and silence them. These violations extend beyond physical torture to include ongoing psychological abuse that deeply impacts detainees’ lives.

The committee calls on Egyptian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all arbitrarily detained human rights defenders, particularly Hoda Abd El-Moneim, Aisha Al-Shater, and Ibrahim Metwally, as well as all human rights defenders subjected to arbitrary detention and torture in blatant violation of both domestic and international laws. CFJ emphasizes the need for Egyptian authorities to respect their international human rights obligations, release all political detainees, and cease the practice of “recycling” charges.

CFJ further calls for ensuring fair trials for all individuals, adhering to the highest legal standards, and guaranteeing all rights enshrined in international human rights treaties.

For more information and media requests or inquiries, please get in touch with us (+41229403538 / media@cfjustice.org)

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