Egypt arrests human rights lawyers as repression against critics intensifies
Egypt arrests human rights lawyers as repression against critics intensifies
Even in the context of years of government repression, this week's arrests were surprising because of the large number of people arrested and the detention of prominent human rights lawyers
"It's a violent attack," said Aida Seif El Dawla, founder of a center that works with victims of torture by Egyptian police. "Every day, every two days there is a group of people who are arrested."
Mr. Sisi came to power in a military coup in 2013, in which he led the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim brotherhood. After the coup, the state launched a lethal crackdown against the Islamists, in which more than a thousand died and tens of thousands were arrested.
In the following years, the government expanded its target to include non-Islamist political opponents, human rights groups, independent news organizations and anyone who criticizes the new government backed by the military.
The Egyptian government has defended its actions against critics, saying the measures are aimed at restoring the country's stability and security after years of political instability and violence after the 2011 revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak from the presidency.
During the raids this week, security forces stormed the homes of human rights workers in the early hours of the morning, captured the activists and searched their properties.
Among those arrested are Huda Abdelmonem, a prominent lawyer and former member of the National Human Rights Council, a government-backed watchdog.
Members of Ms. Abdelmonem's family posted images of her apartment after the raid, with scattered papers, books, furniture and personal items, suggesting a violent search by security forces.
The whereabouts of the 19 people arrested on Thursday is currently unknown, according to human rights groups monitoring the case.
Others arrested this week include members of the Egyptian Coordination for Human Rights, a group whose work has been widely cited by established international media and by Human Rights Watch. The group's director, Ezzat Ghonim, is being held in secret by the security forces, according to his family and human rights groups.
The Egyptian government denies the use of the so-called "forced disappearance" in which security forces refuse to recognize that they are detained in particular.
Separately this week, the Egyptian authorities moved to implement a new restrictive law in the media, demanding that news websites register with the government or face closure.
The move was an illustration of the Egyptian state's control over the media in the country and a growing trend in which even the slightest criticism of the government can result in arrest.
Last week, security forces arrested an economist, Abdel Khalek Farouk, for publishing a critical book on the management of the economy by the government. The government accused him of spreading "false news". He was released days later by order of a court.
"Anyone who dares to speak about human rights violations in Egypt today is in danger," Najia Bounaim, campaign director for North Africa at Amnesty International, said in a statement.
Write to Jared Malsin in jared.malsin@wsj.com
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