{"id":17710,"date":"2025-01-17T16:13:17","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T14:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/?p=17710"},"modified":"2026-10-08T07:38:57","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T05:38:57","slug":"geneva-cairo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/geneva-cairo\/","title":{"rendered":"Ahead of Geneva and the January Anniversary, Egypt Tightens Its Security Grip"},"content":{"rendered":"

Egypt is witnessing an intensifying security crackdown, with arrests, court referrals and summonses for questioning coming days before its human rights record is examined in Geneva and the fourteenth anniversary of the January 2011 uprising.<\/p>\n

Since 2014, the approach of the anniversary has repeatedly brought tighter security measures, including arrests, identity checks and searches. Such measures have continued for more than a decade, despite the absence of substantial domestic calls for demonstrations and the security services\u2019 grip on public space following the adoption of the protest law in November 2013<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On 16 January, the Supreme State Security Prosecution ordered the release of Nada Mogeeth, wife of detained cartoonist Ashraf Omar, on EGP 5,000 bail after hours of questioning in Case 7 of 2025. She faces allegations of joining a banned group and spreading false news. In the same case, prosecutors ordered journalist Ahmed Serag, who works for Zat Masr, held for 15 days pending investigation.<\/p>\n

The arrests coincided with the referral of content creator Ahmed Abou Zeid to an economic court on allegations of dealing in foreign currency outside the banking system. The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) also announced that its executive director, Hossam Bahgat, had been summoned to appear before State Security prosecutors on 19 January.<\/p>\n

Human rights sources tell Zawia3 that around 100 cases have been referred to trial in recent weeks after defendants spent years in pretrial detention. They include cases involving rights lawyer Hoda Abdel Moneim and journalists whose detention, their lawyers and syndicate say, has exceeded the legal limits.<\/p>\n

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An interview followed by arrests<\/h2>\n
\"Journalist
Journalist Ahmed Serag<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Security forces arrested Serag and Mogeeth on the morning of Thursday, 16 January, following an interview<\/a> he conducted with her about two months earlier. Her husband, Ashraf Omar, has been detained for almost six months.<\/p>\n

In the interview, Mogeeth alleged that the officers who arrested her husband took EGP 350,000 from their home\u2014personal savings intended for a car purchase\u2014but recorded only EGP 80,000 in the arrest report. The Interior Ministry denied her account<\/a> and accused Omar of receiving money from Muslim Brotherhood members abroad to distribute to members in Egypt. These are allegations by the ministry, not findings established by a court.<\/p>\n

Education expert Kamal Mogeeth announced his daughter\u2019s detention on Facebook that morning. Political writer Ammar Ali Hassan also described security inquiries about Serag in the days before his arrest, including questions at the school where he teaches Arabic. Hassan said the journalist had asked him to look after his children if anything happened to him.<\/p>\n

Salah al-Din Hassan, editor-in-chief of Zat Masr, says the interview initially attracted relatively little attention. Following the arrests, however, it passed 16,000 views.<\/p>\n

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\u201cDuring the past two months, no official contacted me about this interview,\u201d the editor tells Zawia3.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He explains that Serag had first interviewed Kamal Mogeeth about education. During that conversation, Mogeeth mentioned the detention of his son-in-law and suggested that Nada speak about her husband\u2019s case herself. That led to the later interview.<\/p>\n

According to the editor, Serag is primarily interested in cultural subjects and has not generally focused on political content. Hassan believes Mogeeth\u2019s allegations about money and other belongings taken from her home prompted the authorities\u2019 response. He stresses, however, that he does not know why an interview published two months earlier was revisited at that particular moment.<\/p>\n

Zat Masr has conducted interviews he considers more forceful, Hassan says, raising concern that earlier work could also become the subject of future investigations. He recalls having himself been questioned over an interview roughly five months after its publication, and says editorial staff cannot know what happens behind the scenes or precisely what triggers official displeasure.<\/p>\n

After lengthy questioning, prosecutors released Mogeeth on bail but kept Serag in detention. In addition to the allegations she faces, he was accused of a financing offence.<\/p>\n

Mahmoud Kamel, a board member of the Journalists Syndicate responsible for its freedoms committee, describes Serag\u2019s detention as a clear violation of press freedom. He says the journalist was performing his professional duties and had committed no act warranting an investigation.<\/p>\n

\"Cartoonist
Cartoonist Ashraf Omar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kamel questions how interviewing a detained journalist\u2019s wife could justify allegations of financing or joining a banned group. He asks what evidence supports the financing allegation and what conduct it is supposed to refer to.<\/p>\n

On 6 January, Cairo Criminal Court renewed Omar\u2019s detention, alongside that of 235 other defendants, for 45 days pending investigation. Omar was arrested on 22 July 2024 and is held in State Security Case 1968 of 2024 on allegations of joining a terrorist group, spreading false news and misusing social media.<\/p>\n

The London-based organisation Human Rights Egypt called for his immediate release in a 5 January statement<\/a>, invoking the protections for freedom of opinion and expression in Egypt\u2019s constitution and international human rights instruments.<\/p>\n

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EIPR\u2019s director summoned<\/h2>\n
\"Hossam
Hossam Bahgat, executive director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bahgat received a written summons at EIPR\u2019s offices on Wednesday, 15 January, requiring him to appear before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on Sunday, 19 January. It identified a new investigation, State Security Case 6 of 2025.<\/p>\n

According to EIPR\u2019s announcement<\/a>, the summons did not explain the subject of the case or identify the allegations. Its lawyers could obtain no further information when they visited the prosecution office. Bahgat and his defence team planned to attend at the appointed time in New Cairo.<\/p>\n

The summons came a day after EIPR published a joint submission for the UN Universal Periodic Review documenting the situation of women and girls in Egypt between 2019 and 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On 12 January, the organisation had also reported hunger strikes and refusals to accept prison meals<\/a> at 10th of Ramadan Prison 6, in protest at prolonged pretrial detention and poor conditions. It urged Prosecutor General Mohamed Shawky to inspect the facility and hear detainees\u2019 complaints.<\/p>\n

The Committee for Justice likewise reported a strike by people held in political cases at the prison. It described deteriorating conditions across Egyptian detention facilities and alleged psychological and physical abuse, medical neglect and restrictions on visits, particularly affecting political detainees. The organisation linked these concerns to continuing arbitrary arrests of people from different opposition currents.<\/p>\n

On 15 January, a lawyer with the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms reported<\/a> that economist Abdel Khalek Farouk, on hunger strike since 9 January, had been transferred to a hospital within the prison complex following another cardiac episode.<\/p>\n

The lawyer, who asked not to be named, said doctors suspected narrowing of a coronary artery. He described it as Farouk\u2019s second cardiac crisis since his arrest in October 2024. After returning from the hospital, the lawyer said, Farouk was moved to a remote building where eight cells had been emptied, most occupants were ordinary criminal detainees, and toilets were in an appalling condition. He reported a deterioration in Farouk\u2019s physical and psychological health.<\/p>\n

Political activist and rights researcher Mostafa Shawky connects the escalation to the approaching Geneva review. Heightened international attention to human rights, he argues, makes reports of serious abuses particularly damaging to the government\u2019s image. In his assessment, the authorities respond by dismissing such reports as unfounded and targeting those who circulate them.<\/p>\n

Shawky also tells Zawia3 that regional tensions have weakened external pressure for political reform and improvements in human rights. He believes this could allow the government to pass through the review without responding to demands for change, unlike the pressures surrounding the 2019 review. He fears Donald Trump\u2019s imminent return to the White House could further marginalise human rights concerns.<\/p>\n

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Rights lawyer Haitham Mohamadeen sees the approaching January anniversary as another source of anxiety for the authorities. He describes the arrests and summonses as pre-emptive measures intended to discourage commemoration, protest and demands for detainees\u2019 release.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Mohamadeen points to developments in Syria and the war in Gaza, which has repeatedly motivated demonstrations in Egypt. He believes multiple factors could spark protests, explaining what he sees as preventive action against Mogeeth, Serag and Bahgat. He expects such measures to continue through the end of January.<\/p>\n

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More than 100 cases referred to trial<\/h2>\n

At the end of 2024, Hoda Abdel Moneim faced another development in her long-running detention. Her husband, lawyer Khaled Badawy, said Case 730 of 2020 had again been referred to a State Security criminal court. He described it as a second referral within a month.<\/p>\n

Abdel Moneim had completed a five-year prison sentence in the Egyptian Coordination for Rights and Freedoms case, State Security Emergency Case 1552 of 2018, on 31 October 2023. According to Badawy, she was subsequently placed in the new case on similar allegations, rather than released.<\/p>\n

The Journalists Syndicate also expressed concern that registered journalists and trainees were being referred to criminal trial while still detained, despite having spent more than two years in pretrial custody. In some cases, investigations and detention had continued for more than four years. The syndicate argued that this violated Article 143 of the Criminal Procedure Code and the protections of Article 54 of the constitution.<\/p>\n

Syndicate head Khaled al-Balshy submitted a memorandum<\/a> to the prosecutor general seeking the release of journalists\u2014whether syndicate members or not\u2014who had been referred to trial after more than two years in detention. The syndicate offered to guarantee their appearance when required. He also requested the release of journalists who had reached the statutory maximum for pretrial detention.<\/p>\n

A further demand concerned crediting time already spent in custody against prison sentences. Al-Balshy highlighted Mohamed Ibrahim Radwan, known as Mohamed Oxygen, arrested in September 2019 and sentenced to four years in Emergency State Security Misdemeanour Case 1228 of 2021, with a further one-year sentence in another case brought while he was detained. The syndicate argued that counting his time in custody meant he had already served the combined terms and should be released.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, 16 January, prosecutors referred content creator Ahmed Abou Zeid to an economic court over alleged foreign-currency dealing outside the banking system. Authorities said they had seized USD 163,000. He had been arrested on 30 December 2024 and initially remanded for 15 days. The allegations had not been adjudicated at the time of this report.<\/p>\n

EIPR meanwhile condemned renewed proceedings against publisher and opposition figure Hisham Kassem<\/a>, a former head of the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights. It characterised the new prosecution as politically motivated and based on conduct for which he had already served a prison sentence.<\/p>\n

In early January, Kassem learned through news websites that he was required to attend an economic criminal court on 10 February over allegations of defaming and deliberately harassing former manpower minister Nahed Ashry. EIPR\u2019s lawyers subsequently discovered that the first hearing in Case 2347 of 2024 had already taken place on 11 December 2024 without Kassem or his lawyers, and had been adjourned so he could be formally notified.<\/p>\n

Mohamadeen tells Zawia3 that more than 100 cases have been sent to criminal courts, each involving dozens of defendants and some involving hundreds. He links this to the anticipated passage of a new Criminal Procedure Code during the current parliamentary term, including proposed reductions to pretrial detention limits.<\/p>\n

He argues that many long-held detainees would benefit if shorter limits were introduced, but believes the political decision remains to keep them imprisoned. In his assessment, referring cases to trial creates further procedural delays that may prolong detention for a year or more. This is his assessment of the practice, not a rule automatically restarting the legal detention limit upon referral.<\/p>\n

\"Publisher
Publisher and opposition figure Hisham Kassem<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/svg><\/div>\n

Scrutiny in Geneva<\/h2>\n

Egypt is preparing for its Universal Periodic Review in Geneva later in January. Under this UN mechanism, other member states assess a country\u2019s human rights record and issue recommendations for improvements in light of its international obligations.<\/p>\n

At the 2019 review, 133 delegations spoke and Egypt received 372 recommendations. It fully supported 270, partly supported 31 and noted 71. Its responses described some recommendations as inaccurate, already implemented, irrelevant or politically motivated.<\/p>\n

In November 2024, the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions adopted a recommendation to downgrade Egypt\u2019s National Council for Human Rights to B status. Rights organisations welcomed the recommendation<\/a>, citing shortcomings in its compliance with the Paris Principles.<\/p>\n

The concerns centred on independence, effectiveness and transparency, including the selection of members and executive influence, responses to complaints of enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention, and public reporting. The groups called for a transparent and participatory appointment process, more effective responses to abuses and regular publication of reports to strengthen accountability.<\/p>\n

These concerns form the backdrop to the coming review, while arrests, renewed prosecutions and prolonged detention continue to shape the experiences of journalists, activists and their families.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Arrests, renewed prosecutions and lengthy detention overshadow Egypt\u2019s approaching UN human rights review and the anniversary of the January uprising.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":11620,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[390],"tags":[],"kateb":[710],"class_list":["post-17710","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-human-rights","kateb-zawia3-com"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/\u062d\u0633\u0627\u0645-\u0628\u0647\u062c\u062a\u060c-\u0627\u0634\u0631\u0641-\u0639\u0645\u0631\u060c-\u0623\u062d\u0645\u062f\u060c-\u0647\u0634\u0627\u0645-\u0642\u0627\u0633\u0645.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17710","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17710"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17710\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17711,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17710\/revisions\/17711"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11620"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17710"},{"taxonomy":"kateb","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kateb?post=17710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}