Human Rights Watch criticized the continued tightening grip of the Egyptian authorities on civic space in 2025, and warned of the deterioration of freedoms, the worsening economic crisis, and the remaining thousands of political prisoners behind bars.

Published on: 05/02/2026 - 01:32

Human Rights Watch reported on Wednesday that the Egyptian authorities “continued to tighten their grip” on the country and “stifle civic space” through 2025, warning that this tightening comes in light of deep economic pressures and a continuing lack of funding for public services.

For years, Egypt has been subjected to severe criticism regarding its human rights record, although the administration of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has recently shown some signs of improvement, by holding a “national dialogue” and releasing a number of prominent activists.

However, according to human rights organizations, Cairo is still detaining thousands of political prisoners, including people who were rearrested after previously obtaining a presidential pardon.

In its 2026 World Report, Human Rights Watch confirmed that Egypt sought last year to “systematically dismantle basic freedoms and stifle civic space.”

The report also noted that a combination of factors, including deteriorating economic conditions and lack of funding for education and health care, “undermined people’s social and economic rights.”

Amr Magdy, chief Middle East and North Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, explained, “The Egyptian authorities continued to tighten their grip on the country over the past year, imprisoning human rights defenders, journalists, and activists.”

Magdy accused the authorities of "suppressing peaceful opposition with impunity" and "failing in their basic duty of managing the economy in a way that meets people's rights."

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The Egyptian economy is suffering from major challenges that have worsened since 2022 due to the repercussions of the war in Ukraine and regional instability in Gaza and Sudan, which have deepened chronic structural weaknesses and increased the debt burden associated with huge state-led infrastructure projects.

Although recent investments coming from some wealthy Arab Gulf states have helped achieve a degree of economic stability, the majority of Egyptians still face difficulty in meeting their basic needs, after their savings were depleted as a result of repeated currency devaluations.

The Egyptian pound lost more than two-thirds of its value in four years, leading to a sharp rise in the prices of basic goods and transportation services in an economy that relies heavily on imports.

Human Rights Watch stated that the legislative elections held last year took place without “real competition,” which the organization considered a reason for “ensuring that Parliament remains a formal institution without any opinion.”

She also noted that the authorities continued to arrest journalists, social media influencers, and content creators.

Last May, trials also began for about 6,000 people on charges related to “terrorism,” after years of pretrial detention, according to the organization.

Human Rights Watch concluded by calling on the Egyptian authorities to put an end to “repression,” release “all those illegally detained,” and increase spending on public services.

France 24/AFP

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