Human Rights Watch released a report detailing the Egyptian authorities’ “widespread, organized, and increasing” targeting of dissidents’ relatives. In each of 28 documented cases of Egyptian activists critical of the government living abroad, Egyptian authorities threatened at least one family member still living in Egypt.
- Of these cases, authorities “raided or visited homes of relatives of 14 dissidents,” banned 20 relatives of eight dissidents from traveling, and in five cases, damaged property. Additionally, in 13 of the cases, relatives were accused of or charged with joining a terrorist group or spreading false news.
- According to the report, more than five dissidents living abroad told HRW that “they avoid criticizing the government publicly or engaging in other opposition activities because they fear for their families’ safety in Egypt.”
- Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at HRW, said, “The message Egyptian authorities want to send is clear. Don’t criticize, don’t oppose, and don’t talk. Even if you live abroad, we can hurt your loved ones.”
A draft “anti-rumor law” has been referred to parliament’s Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee. This law would carry a penalty of six months to three years in prison and fines of up to 100,000 Egyptian pounds (about $6,000) for spreading disinformation.
- The draft includes the formation of a body that will “identify, track, and address rumors and disinformation” and will have broad authority to combat what it perceives to be “disinformation” through a variety of channels. The full draft law is available here.
- The Egyptian government frequently uses charges of spreading false information to attack those deemed critical of the regime, raising serious concerns about how this law might be used against those exercising free speech.
Mada Masr revealed on November 20 that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s son, Mahmoud al-Sisi, is being removed from his position in the General Intelligence Service and transferred to Egypt’s diplomatic delegation in Moscow. This decision is reportedly due to the view that Mahmoud’s role is having a “negative impact on his father’s image.”
- According to Mada Masr, those in the president’s “inner circle” believe that Mahmoud “has failed to properly handle a number of his responsibilities,” which includes controlling the notoriously restricted Egyptian media.
- After Mohamed Ali released a number of videos accusing al-Sisi and his family of corruption, Mahmoud was reportedly tasked with handling the potential crisis and oversaw the “fierce crackdown” that involved the arrest of more than 4,000 people. Observers called the arrests—which far surpassed the number of protesters—a further “degradation” of the already poor human rights conditions in the country.
- According to several sources within the Egyptian government, Mahmoud’s new role is being presented as an opportunity to gain new skills “by becoming a military envoy in a country of great strategic importance to Egypt.”
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