Egypt :: Persecution of rights defenders
Besides repression, Egyptian government attempts to freeze assets of human rights activists
The Cairo Criminal Court will rule this Wednesday, April 20, on whether to freeze the assets of Hossam Bahgat, one of Egypt’s most prominent journalists, and his wife Gamal Eid.
The case, filed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, is another maneuver by the government to impede the work of civil society organizations in the country and to persecute independent movements.
If the court rules in favor, the bank accounts of two NGOs will be frozen, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights and the Arab Network for Human Rights Information, both founded by the activist couple. The NGOs are considered two of Egypt’s most serious and independent organizations and the last voices critical of the government on matters of politics, economics and human rights still left in the country. Although there are no formal charges against Bahgat and Eid, they have both been barred from traveling and leaving the country since February.
International human rights organizations have been attempting to pressure the governments of their respective countries to interfere in the case. In a joint letter sent this Tuesday, April 19, to the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, eleven organizations, among them Conectas, expressed deep concern over the measures being taken against civil society in Egypt.
- Click here to read the joint letter sent to the Foreign Ministry.
