In the eerie stillness of Cairo on November 1, 2018, the National Security Agency (NSA) stormed Hoda Abdelmoniem’s home in the early hours, taking her away blindfolded into the unknown. For weeks, her family endured tormenting silence and uncertainty as she was subjected to enforced disappearance, only to make brief appearances at the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) in late November. Her arrest echoed a larger crackdown, with at least 31 human rights defenders and lawyers, including women and men, apprehended that day.
Fast forward to late 2020, whispers among prisoners suggested a grave decline in Hoda’s health. Reports indicated that one of her kidneys had failed amidst a lack of transparency from prison authorities regarding her condition. While the Ministry of Interior publicly assured that she was receiving healthcare, she contested this during a court hearing, revealing her need for crucial cardiac procedures.
On August 23, 2021, Hoda and other notable rights defenders faced severe indictments in the Emergency State Security Court (ESSC). Charged with dubious allegations of terrorism-related offenses linked to their human rights activism, their trials involved serious violations of legal rights. The ESSC later convicted 30 defendants, sentencing them to serve terms from five years to life, curtailing their ability to appeal.
By June 8, 2023, Hoda’s family received troubling news about her transfer to another prison, just after being able to visit her for the first time in almost a year. During the visit, she expressed that her belongings, including necessary medication, were confiscated, leaving her isolated from essential news and information, compounding her distress.
Despite President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s announcement ending the state of emergency in 2021, unfair trials continued. The procedural rights for defendants in these cases were often violated, hindering their access to legal counsel and the means to defend themselves. Lawyers faced significant barriers, including restrictions on reviewing extensive case files, which severely undermined justice.
Hoda, a consultant for the Egyptian Coordination for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF), dedicated her life to documenting human rights abuses in Egypt. In recognition of her valor, she received the 2020 Human Rights Award from the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, spotlighting the plight of several detained lawyers, yet leaving her entangled in a web of injustice in her homeland.
Hoda Abdelmoniem, a lawyer and human rights activist, was arrested by the NSA in Cairo in November 2018 and underwent enforced disappearances. Despite health complications arising from imprisonment, she was denied adequate medical care. In 2021, she faced trial in an Emergency State Security Court under dubious charges. Her recent transfer to another prison worsens her situation as basic rights continue to be violated.
Hoda Abdelmoniem’s plight encapsulates the broader struggle for human rights in Egypt, where individuals daring to speak out face dire consequences. Her health continues to deteriorate amidst ongoing injustices and the denial of proper medical care. The international community’s awareness is crucial to advocate for her rights and those of countless others suffering in silence, as they navigate a treacherous legal system bereft of justice.
The state of human rights in Egypt has deteriorated significantly, with numerous reports of enforced disappearances and crackdowns on activists documented in recent years. The National Security Agency’s approach toward dissenting voices has become increasingly aggressive, with many human rights defenders and lawyers facing arbitrary arrests. The government’s direct oversight over legal proceedings further complicates the landscape, leading to serious violations of due process and the rights of defendants.
Original Source: www.amnesty.org.uk
