Hossam Bahgat, a prominent Egyptian human rights activist and founder of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), is summoned for questioning by Egypt’s Supreme State Security Prosecution. This summons arrives on a Sunday without clarifying the specific charges against him, leaving the activist and his team puzzled about the motivations behind this action.
In a statement, EIPR revealed that Bahgat received the summons at work, but lawyers were met with silence regarding details when they sought clarification at the State Security Prosecution. The uncertainty surrounding these accusations adds to the oppressive atmosphere faced by human rights advocates in Egypt.
Bahgat, who recently had an eight-year travel ban lifted, pointed out that this summons marks the fourth instance in four years where EIPR staff have been called for interrogation. The relentless pressures faced by the organization speak volumes about the challenges confronting human rights in Egypt.
Mahmoud Shalaby, an Amnesty International researcher, condemned the summons as a “sinister attempt to silence criticism” toward Egypt’s human rights practices. He elaborated on the government’s pattern of intimidation, promoting fear through arbitrary arrests and prolonged monitoring of NGOs and their personnel.
This latest summons surfaces shortly after the Egyptian Interior Ministry threatened legal action against EIPR for its criticisms about prison conditions, particularly concerning ongoing hunger strikes by prisoners. In response to the EIPR’s claims, the Ministry dismissed the allegations, insisting they were inciting confusion within the public.
Egypt’s repressive tactics are grim, with reports estimating tens of thousands of political prisoners—including journalists and activists. The struggles of figures like Bahgat reflect a broader narrative of stifled freedom, particularly in academia, where researchers constantly grapple with discrimination and suppression of their work.
Hossam Bahgat, a leading human rights activist in Egypt, was summoned for interrogation by the Supreme State Security Prosecution without clear charges. This incident marks the fourth summon in four years for EIPR staff. Amnesty International condemned the act, describing it as a method to silence criticism and highlighting Egypt’s oppressive tactics against NGOs and activists.
Hossam Bahgat’s summons to the Supreme State Security Prosecution represents just one instance in a larger pattern of repression against human rights activists in Egypt. As criticisms mounted against the state’s treatment of prisoners, the government escalated its intimidation tactics, revealing the fragile landscape of civil liberties in the country. Amnesty International’s condemnation underscores the urgent need for greater protection of human rights advocates.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
