Seven Human Rights Organizations: The Summoning of Aida Seif El-Dawla Is Another Episode of the Crackdown on Human Rights Work and Freedom of Opinion and Expression

The undersigned human rights organizations express their deep concern over the summoning of human rights defender Dr. Aida Seif El-Dawla for interrogation before the Supreme State Security Prosecution tomorrow, Sunday, 15 February, pursuant to a summons she received from the Dokki Prosecution, in connection with Case No. 809 of 2026 (Supreme State Security).

Dr. Seif El-Dawla stated, via her personal Facebook page, that the summons did not specify the reasons for the interrogation or the nature of the charges against her.

This summons comes amid a growing trend in recent months of investigating writers, politicians, and activists before the Supreme State Security Prosecution and repeatedly leveling charges—most notably “spreading false news”—a charge that authorities have routinely used against opposition figures, politicians, and journalists.

It is worth noting that Dr. Seif El-Dawla is one of the founders of the El-Nadeem Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture, which issues periodic reports monitoring conditions in prisons and places of detention based on journalistic and legal follow-up. State authorities ordered the closure of the Center in 2016, a decision that was later annulled by a court ruling.

The undersigned organizations affirm their solidarity with Dr. Aida Seif El-Dawla and consider this summons to constitute a restriction on human rights defenders and an attempt to intimidate them and prevent them from continuing their work documenting violations and seeking to halt them through legal and rights-based means.

They further express their strong concern and condemnation of this step, particularly as it comes within an ongoing wave of summonses and interrogations targeting politicians, public figures, and opinion-holders, reflecting a troubling pattern of shrinking civic space and restrictions on freedom of opinion and expression.

In recent months, the scene has witnessed a number of summonses, including:

1- Dr. Ammar Ali Hassan, novelist and political writer, who was summoned for interrogation on 15 December. The Supreme State Security Prosecution ordered his release on bail of EGP 20,000 after charging him with spreading false news regarding Deputy Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Kamel El-Wazir, based on articles he published on his Facebook page following a complaint submitted by the latter.

2- Political activist Ahmed Douma, who has undergone several interrogations over the past two years before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on charges related to publishing news or expressing opinions. On 20 January 2026, he was released on bail of EGP 100,000 in Case No. 403 of 2026 (Supreme State Security) after an interrogation session that lasted more than eight hours.

3- Politician Alaa El-Khayam, former head of the Al-Dostour Party, who was summoned for interrogation on 1 January 2026.

4- Human rights lawyer Mahienour El-Masry, who was summoned for interrogation on 18 August 2025 and charged with spreading false news related to the war on Gaza and prison conditions, before being released on bail of EGP 50,000.

The undersigned organizations reiterate their condemnation of this pattern of summonses targeting human rights defenders, activists, and politicians for expressing their opinions or carrying out their professional activities in defense of human rights.

Such practices constitute a violation of the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of opinion and expression and contradict Egypt’s international obligations—foremost among them the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, particularly Article 19, which guarantees everyone the right to hold opinions without interference and the right to freedom of expression.

The human rights organizations call on the authorities to respect their constitutional and international obligations to protect human rights defenders and to halt the wave of summonses targeting politicians and public figures for their peaceful positions or opinions.

Signatory Organizations:

1- Arab Foundation for the Support of Civil Society and Human Rights

2- Andalus Institute for Tolerance and Anti-Violence Studies (AITAS)

3- Arab Organization for Penal Reform (Geneva)

4- Arab Observatory for Media Freedom

5- Committee for Justice

6- Arab Center for Law and Society Studies

7- Development, Support and Media Center (DAM)