Egypt
Egypt remains one of the most restrictive environments for free expression in the Middle East and North Africa, with authorities targeting writers, journalists, artists, and human rights defenders through repressive tactics including surveillance, judicial harassment, smear campaigns, threats, and travel bans. Since President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi took power in 2014, authorities have tightened control over the media and cultural sectors, with independent voices frequently silenced through vague anti-terrorism, cybercrime, and other national security laws.
What You Need to Know
Egypt consistently ranks in the Top 10 jailers of writers PEN America’s Freedom to Write Index. This is due to the widespread use of lengthy, indefinite pretrial detentions, where individuals are held for years without formal charges or trial.
The number of writers held in prolonged pretrial detention tripled in 2024, showing a sharp escalation in the use of indefinite imprisonment without trial.
The high number of imprisoned writers is driven by the regular use of vaguely worded national security laws, such as those targeting “spreading false news,” “belonging to a terrorist group,” or “misusing social media,” to justify arbitrary detention.
News
Individual Cases
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Galal El-Behairy
Status: DetainedGalal El-Behairy is an Egyptian poet, lyricist, and activist who has been imprisoned since his arrest at Cairo International Airport… More
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Alaa Abd El Fattah
Status: DetainedA pioneering activist and blogger, Abd El Fattah was first arrested in 2014 and served five years in prison until… More
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Ahmed Douma
Status: ReleasedA poet, activist, and blogger, Douma was first arrested in 2013 due to his prominent role in the 2011 Egyptian… More
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Ahmed Naji
Status: Displaced/In ExileCharged with ‘violating public modesty’ for sexual content in his novel The Use of Life, Naji served 10 months in… More