UN Experts Demand Egypt End Restrictions on Freed Human Rights Defenders

UN human rights experts have urged the Egyptian government to lift ongoing restrictions imposed on human rights defenders who have recently been released from detention. This call aligns with international human rights standards and emphasizes the need for these individuals to regain their freedom and normalcy in life.

The special rapporteurs highlighted that many former detainees continue to face travel bans, frozen assets, and ongoing inclusion on Egypt’s terrorism watchlist. Such restrictions hinder their ability to reintegrate into society, despite having served their sentences or received presidential pardons. Among those specifically mentioned are Gasser Abdel Razek, Karim Ennarah, and Mohamed Bashir, members of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), who were arrested in November 2020. Despite appealing against the freezes on their assets—a right protected under Egyptian law—their efforts have not yielded success.

Another notable case is that of Mohamed El-Baqer, a human rights lawyer who was detained on multiple charges and remains on Egypt’s terrorism watchlist following a five-year incarceration. He received a presidential pardon in 2023 but continues to face significant restrictions. Similarly, Samir Abdel-Hai, who was arrested in early 2021, was pardoned in the summer of 2022 but has since been subjected to a travel ban and labeled as a “threat to national security.”

The experts have criticized the Egyptian authorities for their actions, stating, “These human rights defenders were criminalized under vague counterterrorism laws… They should not continue to face restrictions.” The ongoing limitations could place Egypt in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits arbitrary detention in Article 9, as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which prohibits it in Article 6.

These concerns emerge alongside broader allegations of systemic human rights violations within Egypt. Significant issues reported over recent years include torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, and restrictions on freedom of expression. The prosecution of journalists and widespread censorship are particularly alarming trends that have drawn international scrutiny.

As the situation unfolds, the UN experts’ demands for change reflect a larger conversation about human rights in Egypt and the necessity for adherence to international standards. The call for the Egyptian government to amend its policies toward human rights defenders is a crucial step towards fostering a more open and just society.