In a stark warning this week, Amnesty International has accused Egyptian authorities of violating fundamental human freedoms by prosecuting individuals for discussing religion online. Rights defenders say the recent wave of arrests and prosecutions under broad legal provisions has not only targeted extremists but also ordinary citizens expressing personal beliefs. This has ignited global concern about freedom of religion and expression in Egypt.
The latest Amnesty statement makes clear that these government actions are more than isolated incidents. They are part of a wider pattern of repression that rights groups say undermines basic human rights protections and puts peaceful speakers at risk of arbitrary detention and mistreatment.
Authorities Step Up Enforcement of Broad Online Expression Laws
In recent months, Egyptian security forces have been increasingly arresting individuals for what officials describe as “contempt of religion” or “spreading extremist ideas” based solely on digital posts, content in videos or private messages discussing religious themes, belief or interpretation.
Authorities have applied longstanding statutes such as criminal provisions in the Penal Code and the Cybercrime Law to justify these arrests. These laws criminalize online expression deemed harmful to “public order” or “religious values” without clear definitions, rights groups said.
Unlike cases involving advocacy of violence or hate speech — which carry clear security concerns — the individuals documented by Amnesty were expressing their personal perspectives on faith, atheism or religious interpretation without inciting harm.
Local civil society organizations have confirmed that enforcement is not limited to traditional religious minorities. Atheists, converts, members of unrecognised religious groups and Muslims with non-mainstream theological views have also been detained, sometimes accused of links to extremist organizations without substantiated evidence.
Cases Reveal Harsh Treatment and Arbitrary Detention
According to the Amnesty analysis covering mid-2025 to early January 2026, at least 27 people were arrested and subjected to harsh conditions including enforced disappearance — where detainees are held without access to the outside world — ranging from four to 56 days.
At least 11 detainees were denied legal counsel of their own choosing during interrogations, and one reportedly died in custody under unclear circumstances.
The rights group documented specific examples such as:
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A YouTube content creator detained for hosting peaceful religious debates online.
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A man arrested for criticizing a popular preacher.
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Another detained for satirical commentary on religious practices.
In many cases, authorities seized personal devices, including phones and laptops, without presenting warrants or explaining the legal grounds for searches.
Legal Framework and Human Rights Obligations in Question
Amnesty International said these practices contravene Egypt’s international commitments on freedom of religion or belief, including pledges made during the country’s Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2025.
While Egyptian officials traditionally defend such laws as necessary for national security and public order, the rights group argued that vague legal language allows authorities to conflate peaceful expression with threats to stability, creating a chilling effect across digital spaces.
The Cybercrime Law, Penal Code and national security provisions have for years been cited by human rights groups as tools used to suppress digital freedom of expression in Egypt, affecting activists, journalists and ordinary users alike.
Broader Context of Shrinking Civic Space
This crackdown reflects a broader trend in Egypt where civil liberties have been under sustained pressure for over a decade, especially since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi came to power. Rights groups and independent research bodies have documented severe constraints on internet freedom, harassment of bloggers and self-censorship driven by fear of legal repercussions.
In Freedom House’s annual assessments, Egypt consistently ranks as “Not Free” with severe limitations on internet access and violations of user rights, including criminal penalties and surveillance contributing to high levels of self-censorship.
Amnesty and other organizations such as the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights have repeatedly documented mass arrests, enforced disappearances and prolonged pretrial detentions as part of this tightening civic space.
International Response and Calls for Reform
The international community has taken notice. United Nations human rights experts and some foreign governments have urged Egypt to align its domestic laws with international human rights standards, especially regarding freedom of expression and freedom of religion.
Human rights watchers have also called on Egyptian authorities to end arbitrary detentions, ensure fair trials and repeal overly broad legal provisions that criminalize peaceful online expression.
Some international bodies have emphasised that protecting religious diversity and open discussion is essential for social cohesion and human rights compliance, warning that continued suppression risks isolating Egypt on the global stage.
The Egyptian government has not issued a public response directly addressing the most recent Amnesty statement as of this writing.
