Egypt

Under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government, Egypt has been experiencing its worst human rights crisis in many decades. Tens of thousands of government critics, including journalists and human rights defenders, remain imprisoned on politically motivated charges, many in lengthy pretrial detention. Authorities frequently use terrorism charges against peaceful activists and harassed and detained relatives of dissidents abroad. The Covid-19 outbreak exacerbated dire conditions in overcrowded prisons and dozens detained on political grounds died in custody. Authorities use vague “morality” charges to prosecute female social media influencers, witnesses, and survivors of sexual violence. Grave crimes including torture and enforced disappearance are committed with impunity.