Egypt: Joint submission to the UPR on the crackdown on dissent and violations of freedom of expression

Image credit: Elma Okic

27 January 2024: PEN International, English PEN, and PEN America have contributed a joint submission on Egypt as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process in advance of its upcoming review on 28 January 2025 in Geneva. In this submission, PEN documents serious violations of freedom of expression and urges the United Nations Human Rights Council and its Member States to scrutinise Egypt’s violations and devise concrete recommendations to safeguard freedom of expression in the country.

“Despite supporting more than half of the recommendations related to freedom of expression in its last UPR review, Egypt has instead intensified its crackdown on public dissent, imposing severe restrictions on free expression and access to information. The ongoing mistreatment and unjust detention of writers, bloggers, and peaceful activists is unacceptable and must end immediately. Egyptian authorities are obligated to uphold international human rights standards and abide by their own constitution,” said PEN America Research Manager Asma Laouira.

“ Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of human rights, yet in Egypt, it continues to be under siege. The ongoing repression of writers and activists is not only a violation of international law but also an affront to the principles of justice and human rights that the global community must uphold.” Romana Cacchioli, PEN International Executive Director

The human rights crisis in Egypt has significantly worsened since the country’s last UPR in 2019 and continues to deteriorate. Egyptian authorities continue to systematically punish public or perceived dissent and severely repress the rights to peaceful assembly, association, and freedom of expression. Scores of journalists, human rights defenders, activists, and bloggers have been arbitrarily arrested, detained for prolonged periods without trial, and faced trumped-up charges solely in relation to their work or critical views. They have also been systematically targeted, with authorities utilising a series of repressive tactics aimed to silence them, including judicial harassment, smear campaigns, threats, physical assaults, and travel bans, creating a chilling effect on freedom of expression in Egypt.

PEN's submission highlights grave concerns around the state of freedom of expression in the country, including press freedom, access to information, and the right to protest. The submission identifies a number of problematic pieces of legislation that significantly restrict freedom of expression, including anti-terrorism legislation, the Anti-Protest Law, and the Anti-Cybercrime Law..

PEN International, English PEN, and PEN America remain deeply concerned for the many writers whose lives and livelihoods have been affected by the ongoing crackdown on dissent. These include the British-Egyptian writer Alaa Abd el-Fattah, whose mother Laila Soueif has been on hunger strike for 120 days to protest his ongoing detention; imprisoned poet and lyricist Galal el-Behairy who continues to be denied access to urgent medical care; and poet Ahmed Douma who has remained subject to a travel and ongoing harassment since his release in 2023.

“We continue to call on Egypt to release all those imprisoned in violation of their right to freedom of expression immediately and unconditionally, and urge Member States to echo this call during the forthcoming UPR session," said English PEN’s Head of Campaigns, Cat Lucas.

In their recommendations, PEN International, English PEN, and PEN America demand a repeal of all legislation restricting freedom of expression, the immediate and unconditional release of all imprisoned writers, and an end to the harassment of those released. We urge that the treatment of all detainees be brought into full alignment with international human rights standards and in compliance with the Egyptian constitution.

Note to editors: 

For more information, please contact Mina Thabet, Head of the MENA Region, email: Mina.Thabet@pen-international.org 

For media queries, please contact Sabrina Tucci, PEN International Communications and Campaigns Manager,  Sabrina.Tucci@pen-international.org