“While the Egyptian authorities have demonstrated almost zero tolerance for any form of dissent or critics in recent months, ongoing practices aiming to sanction the legitimate exercise of freedoms, including freedom of expression, information and opinion raise serious fears that such policy will keep going” said Karim Lahidji, FIDH’s president.
In interviews prior to his election, Marshall El-Sissi has spoken out against “too many freedoms” that cause turmoil, amid an already shrinking space for legitimate exercise of freedoms. This has raised fears that his presidency will bring an increased clampdown on any dissenting voice.
Despite the provisional release of Al-Jazeera Arabic journalist, Abdullah Al-Shamy, on 16 June, after a lengthy pre-trial detention and a hunger strike started on 21 January to denounce his detention, journalists, human rights defenders, NGOs, academics or even demonstrators continue to be targeted for peacefully expressing their views or informing about the situation.
On 14 June, security forces stormed the printing house of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), confiscated the 72nd edition of “wasla”, a publication that summarizes blogs and posts by activists and bloggers, as well as other printing materials. One employee was arrested. Security forces refused to show the arrest warrants, but one officer said the charges are “issuing a newspaper that calls for and incites to the downfall of the regime” alleging that the newspaper is issued by the Muslim Brotherhood. The Prosecution ordered 4 days detention for the employee.
The same day, a protest against sexual harassment and assault was held in Cairo. Despite the fact that the protest organizers had obtained a permit from the Ministry of Interior in accordance with the assembly law, two protesters, Hermes Fawzy and Nader Ossama were arrested because of a sign they held stating “the police sexually harass”. They were later released without charges.
On 5 June, the Court of Appeals in Beba, Beni Seuf, upheld in absentia the sentence against Karam Saber, the head of the Land Center for Human rights, of five years imprisonment on charges of defamation of religion according to article 98 (f) of the penal code. Saber had been sentenced by a lower court in Beba in May 2013 to five years imprisonment in abstensia because of a book he wrote entitled “Where is God?”. The court later upheld his conviction on 11 March 2014 following a re-trial, ordering his release pending appeal on bail of 1,000 Egyptian Pounds.
On 1 June, a Coptic Christian, Kirilis Shawqi Qatas, was also referred to an urgent trial in Luxor on charges of defamation of religion because of online posts on facebook.
On 4 June, satirical TV host Bassem Youssef announced the termination of the show “Al Bernameg” due to the pressure exerted on the show, as well as threats to the personal security of him, his family and the crew.
The ongoing trial against Al Jazeera English journalists on politicized charges such as disseminating “false information” and belonging to a “terrorist organization,” some of which carry prison sentences ranging from 5 to 15 years is one of the most emblematic case of the crackdown targeting journalists.
FIDH urges the new Egyptian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those detained for exercise their right to freedom of expression, opinion and information, and those detained solely for their journalism work. Furthermore, FIDH calls upon the Egyptian authorities to uphold their international human rights obligations and respect fundamental human rights including the right to freedom of expression and opinion.