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Egypt: CFJ Documents Severe Violations in its Quarterly Bulletin under the “Justice for Human Rights Defenders” Project for the Last Quarter of 2024

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The “Committee for Justice” (CFJ) released quarterly bulletin as part of its “Justice for Human Rights Defenders” project, focusing on monitoring violations against human rights defenders in Egypt during the period from October to December 2024.

The bulletin provides a detailed overview of the human rights situation in Egypt, highlighting the deterioration of conditions, particularly concerning defenders of rights and freedoms. It addresses a series of escalating violations faced by human rights defenders during this quarter, shedding light on their legal, medical, and political dimensions.

Arbitrary Arrests:

One of the most notable cases covered in the bulletin is that of lawyer Fatima Al-Zahraa Gharib, who was arrested on December 20, 2024, and subjected to enforced disappearance for five days before appearing before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on December 25.

Prolonged Pretrial Detention:

The bulletin also highlights the issue of prolonged pretrial detention that affects many human rights defenders in Egypt, often exceeding the legally prescribed limit of two years. Among the detainees mentioned is lawyer Ibrahim Metwally, who has spent over seven years in pretrial detention without trial on multiple cases. Other cases include lawyers Ahmed Nazeer Al-Halaw and Fathi Al-Taher Ghayati, as well as journalists Mostafa Al-Khatib and Medhat Ramadan, who remain detained despite surpassing the legal timeframe.

Poor Detention Conditions:

The deteriorating conditions in Egyptian prisons were also a focus, with serious health violations reported. Notable cases include activist Radwa Yasser, who suffers from breast cancer and requires urgent medical treatment. Her family’s appeals for her release to receive proper care have been ignored. Lawyer Ibrahim Metwally also continues to face medical neglect, with authorities denying him urgent surgery for prostate enlargement, exacerbating his suffering in detention.

Travel Bans:

Journalist Hisham Kassem was barred from traveling from Cairo International Airport in December 2024, despite the absence of legal grounds, to attend a regional conference titled “The Arab Democratic Covenant: A Roadmap for Arab Democracy.”

Unjust Judicial Sentences:

The bulletin addresses the issuance of harsh judicial sentences against civilians in North Sinai in December 2024. The Ismailia Military Court sentenced 62 civilians to prison terms ranging from 3 to 10 years. Days later, the Egyptian presidency issued a pardon for all the convicted individuals, reflecting the contentious nature of these rulings.

Threats and Intimidation Against Defenders:

Documented cases also include threats and intimidation faced by human rights defenders. Journalist Rasha Azab staged an open sit-in at the Journalists’ Syndicate in December 2024 to protest against security threats directed at her and her family.

CFJ concluded its bulletin by calling for an immediate halt to these violations and adherence to international human rights standards, ensuring justice and freedom for all citizens in Egypt.

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

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