Press Release
The Executive Director of the “Committee for Justice,” Ahmed Mefreh, in his speech addressing the report by the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders in Africa, emphasized the deterioration of conditions for human rights defenders and lawyers in Egypt.
– Proposed amendments to the criminal procedure code:
In his speech, which was a collaborative effort between CFJ and DIGNITY, Mefreh noted that the environment in Egypt has become increasingly hostile, especially with new proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code. He stressed that, although these changes are described as reforms, they could cause serious harm to justice, human rights, and the rule of law in the country.
Mefreh explained that the proposed amendments would extend pretrial detention periods, increase judicial powers, and grant more authority to law enforcement, likely resulting in further arbitrary arrests and retaliatory actions against human rights defenders. This would endanger activists’ safety and freedom, while also undermining the legal protections necessary for a fair justice system.
– Continued targeting of human rights defenders:
The Executive Director of CFJ stated that “Egyptian authorities continue to target human rights defenders through travel bans, asset freezes, and unfair trials. The proposed changes would enable even more repression, introducing new tools for prolonged detention without trial and under false charges. This approach cycles detainees through new cases, creating a continuous loop of injustice and impunity.”
Mefreh emphasized that these amendments not only contradict Egypt’s Constitution but also violate the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other international agreements that Egypt is committed to, posing a serious threat to civil liberties.
– Transnational repression:
Mefreh also addressed the issue of “transnational repression,” which he described as a disturbing tactic by Egyptian authorities targeting activists living abroad. This includes threats and harassment of dissidents who sought safety in other countries.
He highlighted that these threats include canceling passports and pressuring foreign governments to either extradite or silence these activists. Such actions weaken international human rights protections and create a hostile environment for Egyptians even outside their country.
– Calls for action to end repression in Egypt:
The Executive Director of CFJ called on the Special Rapporteur to apply pressure on Egyptian authorities to end these practices, to adhere to international human rights standards, and to release all detained human rights defenders immediately and unconditionally.
Mefreh also urged the Commission to act quickly to stop this repression and to protect the rights of human rights defenders, whether in Egypt or abroad. He listed several detained defenders in Egypt, including human rights lawyer and activist Ibrahim Metwally Hegazy, lawyer and human rights activist Ezzat Ghoneim, lawyer and human rights defender Hoda Abdel Moneim, and doctor and rights activist Dr. Ahmed Shawki Abdel Sattar Amasha. Additionally, human rights lawyer Mohamed el-Baqer remains on the terrorism watch list despite his recent release.