Egypt: More than 100 arbitrarily detained over calls for anti-government protests

The Egyptian authorities have embarked on a new wave of arbitrary arrests of dozens of people against the backdrop of calls for anti-government protests amid rising public discontent at soaring prices and ongoing power cuts, Amnesty International said today. Since the beginning of July, Egyptian security forces have arbitrarily detained 119 individuals, including at least seven women and one child, in at least six governorates, in connection to online calls for a “Dignity Revolution” on 12 July. Detainees posted on their social media accounts calling for protests and for the ousting of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government due to price hikes and the year-long power cuts. The protests eventually did not materialize. “It is utterly shameful that complaining about worsening economic and living standards means imprisonment in Egypt. Instead of silencing people for expressing their discontent and continuing to use brutal tactics to eradicate any public protests, the government of Egypt must take concrete steps to fulfill people’s social and economic rights,” said Mahmoud Shalaby, Amnesty International’s Egypt Researcher. “The Egyptian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all those arbitrarily detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression. They must ensure that people can exercise their right to protest without having to fear retribution.” Egypt has been witnessing a rise in discontent among people who are struggling to meet their basic needs amid hikes in food and fuel prices and a shortage of medicines across the country. In January 2024, people in Egypt were hit by a series of price hikes that included telecom fares and metro tickets. Since July 2023, the Egyptian government has implemented cost-saving measures including cutting electricity for two hours every day in all areas of the country, except some governorates with high numbers of tourists. The cuts affect several aspects of life in the country, including access to water which requires pumps to reach higher floors in many buildings. Local media reported several deaths of people who got stuck in elevators during the cuts.