Egyptian security forces say they have “killed 83 suspected Islamist militants” in Sinai since September 28. According to Reuters, “conflict” in the Sinai has escalated since 2013, with an increased Islamic State threat met by a heavy and often indiscriminate crackdown by Egyptian forces.
- The military started a campaign against the Egyptian Islamic State affiliate in February 2018. The group recently swore allegiance to new Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Quraishi.
- Human Rights Watch has found that the Egyptian security forces have committed war crimes and abuses against civilians in Sinai as part of its campaign against IS-Sinai. Deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, Michael Page, stated at the time, “North Sinai’s ISIS affiliate deserves the global condemnation it has received and full accountability for its heinous abuses, but the army’s campaign, marred with equally serious violations, including war crimes, should also be roundly criticized rather than praised.” Several journalists have been prosecuted for reporting on events in North Sinai.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a statement saying that the threats and harassment against Gamal Eid, a lawyer and director of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), “indicate government involvement.” HRW also calls for authorities to “bring an immediate end to these attacks.”
- Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at HRW, said, “the thuggish attacks on Gamal Eid sadly reflect the deplorable state of human rights under the government of President al-Sisi,” and that the attacks “appear to be part and parcel of the Egyptian government’s campaign of intimidation, harassment, and violence against human rights activists.”
- On October 31, witnesses observed a car Eid was driving—only a few weeks after his own car was mysteriously stolen—“violently smashed” by security forces while parked. On October 10, Eid was physically assaulted and then approached by people posing as police officers. Eid also received a threatening call from a man saying, “behave yourself, Mr. Gamal,” on October 30.
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