Egypt ramps up crackdown on exiled human rights defenders, says report

Egyptian Security Forces Escalate Persecution of Exiled Human Rights Defenders

Security forces in Egypt are intensifying their persecution of exiled human rights defenders in an attempt to suppress dissent abroad, according to a new report. The report, based on interviews with 10 human rights activists who fled Egypt between 2017 and 2020, highlights the methods used by Egyptian authorities to intimidate and harass them. These methods include issuing sentences in absentia, launching judicial investigations, and placing them on designated terrorism lists.

Denial of Consular Services and Revocation of Citizenship

The report reveals that those affected have been denied consular services and have even had their citizenship revoked, leaving their legal status uncertain. The joint report, published by the Egyptian Human Rights Forum and the Egyptian Front for Human Rights, also states that security services track and monitor the activities of exiled activists. They intimidate their families by frequently summoning them for questioning or arbitrarily detaining them. Activists have also reported being targeted by digital harassment, including hacking and the use of spyware.

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“The Egyptian government perceives the growing influence of the country’s exiled activist community as a significant threat,” said Samar Elhussieny, Programs Director of the Egyptian Human Rights Forum.

“By aggressively targeting activists living in exile, the government seems intent on limiting their ability to condemn abuses, advocate for accountability, and influence international policies and mechanisms related to the human rights situation in Egypt,” she added.

Extradition Agreements

The majority of the activists interviewed for the report did not have much choice about their country of exile and were compelled to make their decision based on logistical and financial considerations. Upon arrival, several activists reported that the countries they had fled to had extradition agreements with Egypt. Others did not have a clear stance on human rights abuses in Egypt under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s rule.

Some activists reported being left in “legal limbo” upon arrival at their chosen country’s airports. One person recalled having their visa cancelled upon arrival in Korea. They were given the choice to be deported to either Egypt or Malaysia, and they chose Malaysia. However, they were released due to the elections taking place at that time.

A number of activists reported that their departure from Egypt prompted the authorities to expedite and escalate legal proceedings against them. In state security cases, these proceedings tend to proceed slowly and only become active after a prolonged investigation. One activist mentioned that their case, which they believed had been suspended, was reactivated the day they left Egypt.

The report also highlights that being included on terrorism lists can have severe legal implications for Egyptian human rights defenders. It can make their status abroad more precarious, resulting in them being placed on watch lists at airports and border crossings. They may also be stripped of civil and political rights, and their property, assets, and wealth may be confiscated.

“The findings in the report paint a deeply concerning picture of the immense personal toll this crackdown is taking on the exiled human rights community,” said Elhussieny. “Fearing for the safety of their loved ones, many are forced to scale back their advocacy or even cease it altogether. Others have had to completely cut ties with Egypt, severing connections to their homes and communities.”

The Sisi government, in power since 2014 following a military coup, has been accused by rights groups of overseeing the country’s worst era of repression. It is estimated that around 60,000 political prisoners are currently held in Egyptian jails arbitrarily, and numerous pro-democracy advocates have been forced into exile over the past decade.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
• Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements
• Indicator 16.1.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age
• Indicator 16.10.1: Number of verified cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, and torture of journalists, associated media personnel, trade unionists, and human rights advocates in the previous 12 months

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies
• Indicator 10.7.1: Recruitment cost borne by employee as a proportion of yearly income earned in country of destination

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships
• Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships

Analysis

1. The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The article discusses the persecution and harassment of exiled human rights defenders by Egyptian security forces, which relates to the need for peace, justice, and strong institutions. It also mentions the challenges faced by these activists in their chosen countries of exile, highlighting the issue of reduced inequalities.

2. Based on the article’s content, the specific targets under the identified SDGs are:
– Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
– Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
– Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.

3. The article mentions indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
– Indicator 16.1.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age. This indicator can be used to measure progress in reducing violence and related death rates.
– Indicator 16.10.1: Number of verified cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, and torture of journalists, associated media personnel, trade unionists, and human rights advocates in the previous 12 months. This indicator can be used to measure progress in ensuring public access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms.
– Indicator 10.7.1: Recruitment cost borne by employee as a proportion of yearly income earned in the country of destination. This indicator can be used to measure progress in facilitating safe and responsible migration.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: middleeasteye.net