After Gaza ceasefire, rights group urge Sisi to release pro-Palestine protesters

An Egyptian human rights organization has called on President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's government to release all those held in pretrial detention for opposing Israel's attacks on Gaza, following the implementation of a ceasefire. According to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), approximately 129 people, including two minors, have been detained since October 2023 for participating in peaceful protests.

EIPR stated, "We join the families of those held in pretrial detention in calling on the authorities to release dozens of detainees who have expressed support for Palestine, in line with the recent statements by the President, who said that Egypt 'defends and supports the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,' which is precisely what the detainees were trying to do." The organization added, "They sought to defend the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people by expressing solidarity, whether through demonstrations, raising banners, writing slogans in the streets or on social media, or even fundraising for relief."

The organization noted that these detainees are being held in pretrial detention in connection with 10 different cases and charges. Shortly after the start of Israel’s military operation, Sisi had stated that “millions of Egyptians” were ready to take to the streets to protest the mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. However, his government has cracked down harshly on those who have participated in protests or called for a ceasefire online.

EIPR stated that two days after Sisi made those remarks, on October 20, 42 protesters and bystanders were detained in Cairo and Alexandria, accused of violating the anti-terrorism law, and held in pretrial detention. Among those detained was 22-year-old Abdel Samad Rabie, who had participated in protests responding to Sisi’s call. According to EIPR, Rabie spent much of his childhood undergoing treatment for leukemia and still requires regular medical care. Before his arrest, he was a recent graduate of the Arab Open University and had received a scholarship from the 57357 Children’s Cancer Hospital.

The human rights organization cited hospital reports stating that Rabie requires a cardiovascular check-up every six months. Other detainees include 31-year-old former army officer Karim Orabi, who was injured three times while serving in Sinai, as well as university student Ali Adel, who suffers from optic neuropathy, and business student Amr Reda. EIPR added that the case also involves some families’ sole breadwinners, such as Ahmed Sayed Amin Abdo, who has a wife and four children, worker Mohamed Karim Salama, and lawyer Ahmed Abu Zaid, who has two children.

On October 27, 2023, security forces also detained 11 pro-Palestine protesters near Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, who remain in detention. EIPR also documented the arrest in March of two 17-year-old minors who had written slogans against the war in Gaza on a bridge in Cairo. According to EIPR, they have been held at the Dar Al Salam police station since their arrest and have been denied family visits. Another case involves six young people detained in Alexandria in April for holding banners calling for the opening of the Rafah border crossing and the release of pro-Palestine detainees.

EIPR stated that the crackdown is illegal and contradicts Egypt’s penal code. “EIPR stresses that pretrial detention is strictly a precautionary measure and should only be taken in the event of fear that the defendant may flee or abscond; or fear that the integrity of the investigation may be compromised; or the necessity to prevent serious harm to security and public order, according to Article 134 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,” the organization said. “This code of criminal procedure does not apply to any of the above-mentioned defendants or any other person, including children and students, and those with known jobs and specific places of residence, and who have families that depend on them for care.”

Despite publicly opposing Israel’s war, Sisi’s government has cracked down on pro-Palestine activism over the past 15 months, including the detention of at least 250 football fans, students, and women’s rights activists. Sisi has been criticized for enabling Israel’s siege of Gaza during the recent conflict and for allowing state-affiliated companies to profit from the movement of people and aid through the Rafah crossing. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have concluded that Israel’s war on Gaza constitutes genocide. The International Court of Justice is currently hearing a case brought by South Africa in December 2023 accusing Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention. The court has since issued several provisional orders acknowledging the plausibility of South Africa’s case.