Egypt

Egypt is one of MEDC’s focus countries. Our work on Egypt covers topics such as authoritarianism, governance, civil society, political prisoners, democracy and human rights advocacy, and U.S. policy, including foreign aid and arms sales.

Featured Publications

Egypt

May 2025

Statement

Joint Statement: In Absentia Verdict Against Egyptian Politician Hisham Kassem Reinforces Growing Pattern of Egypt's Transnational Repression Targeting Exiled Dissidents

May 2025

Statement

Joint Statement: Tantawi’s Interrogation in Connection with New Cases Reflects Egyptian Authorities’ Continued Persecution of Dissidents

Apr 2025

Statement

Joint Statement: Rights Organizations Condemn Violations in Egypt's Badr 3 Prison as Multiple Prisoners Attempt Suicide

Apr 2025

Statement

Joint Statement: Rights Groups Demand Justice for Unlawful Killing of Two and the Arbitrary Arrest of Dozens of Women in Marsa Matrouh, Egypt

Feb 2025

Statement

Joint Statement: The Blocking of Zawia 3 is a Serious Escalation in Egypt’s Restrictions on Press Freedom

Letters and Statements

May 2025

As Laila Soueif Begins Full Hunger Strike, 32 Human Rights Organizations Send Letter to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Apr 2025

Joint Letter: Urgent Appeal for the Immediate Release of Abdulrahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi

Mar 2025

Joint Letter – Urgent Appeal for a Presidential Pardon for Alaa Abdel-Fattah

Feb 2025

Joint Letter to UAE Urgently Calling for Release and End to the Enforced Disappearance of Poet Abdulrahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi

MEDC in the News

“Egyptian criminal procedures code obligates the authorities to make sure that they do not try a person for the same crime more than once. Hoda is a human rights lawyer, so it’s no secret why she’s being targeted…She provided legal aid to everyone without discrimination, without basing it on political affiliation. And that, of course, angered the authorities because it shows honesty – and that, to them, is dangerous”.

Middle East Eye

, 01/24/2025

Yasmin Omar

“The idea was to not increase tensions or upset the Egyptians. Egypt was playing the role that the US wanted it to play.”

Mada Masr

, 01/14/2025

Seth Binder

“The Egyptian authorities should ensure the safety of his family in Egypt, and end their smear campaigns and the relentless, years-long crackdown on human rights groups and independent organizations.”

The New Arab

, 02/25/2024

Seth Binder

“This money is tainted. . . . This is an Egyptian government that is meddling in U.S. politics and foreign policy in an illegal way. . . . [For military aid to Egypt in Fiscal Year 2024, Congress] could consider topline reductions, removing the national security waiver on the portion that’s conditioned on human rights or increasing the portion that’s conditioned on human rights.”

TIME

, 09/27/2023

Seth Binder

“It’s clear that [the Government of Egypt’s] involvement and effort in trying to push to get military aid cleared and released is an indication that this is absolutely something they care strongly about, and they’re willing to do whatever they can to get the assistance that they think belongs to them.”

Al-Monitor

, 09/27/2023

Seth Binder

“You have a powerful senator in a privileged position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, potentially weighing in on one of the primary tools for advancing U.S. interests in Egypt, which is military aid.”

New Jersey Monitor

, 09/26/2023

Seth Binder

“We often hear that using military aid as leverage won’t work, as the Egyptian government doesn’t really care about the assistance. This indictment should put that argument to bed, it has clearly been proven false.”

The Guardian

, 09/25/2023

Seth Binder

“According to the three-count indictment, while enriching himself, Menendez used his position to prioritize the wants of Egypt’s corrupt and brutal government and security services,” said the Washington-based group the Freedom Initiative, which focuses on political prisoners held across the Middle East. “The indictment alleges significant efforts by the Egyptian government to improperly influence US policy and law. President Biden and his administration should demand an accounting from the Egyptian government and announce a review of the bilateral relationship.”

The Guardian

, 09/25/2023

The Freedom Initiative

He called on Congress to block pending U.S. aid “in order to make crystal clear that al-Sisi’s human rights record and infiltrating the U.S. political system will not be tolerated.”

Washington Post

, 09/22/2023

Seth Binder

“The regime has definitely entered a renewed and heightened phase of its repression as the presidential election approaches and the economy continues to falter.”

Wall Street Journal

, 09/16/2023

Seth Binder

Congressional Testimony

Sep 2020

Events

Egypt

March 26, 2024

Sisi’s Hollowed State: Ten Years of Autocracy in Egypt

Egypt

June 30, 2023

Sisi's Egypt: Ten Years Since the Coup

Egypt + more
MENA

December 12, 2022

African Human Rights Leaders Summit

Dog Socks

Support Our Work

Donate now to support our work to free the unjustly detained and advocate for U.S. policies that protect human rights and democracy.

Your support helps MEDC continue our expert analysis and research, nonpartisan advocacy efforts, and partnerships with grassroots organizations in the MENA region.

Egypt

Seth Binder

Yasmin Omar

Haydn Welch

Kristen McTighe

Featured Publications

Joint Statement: In Absentia Verdict Against Egyptian Politician Hisham Kassem Reinforces Growing Pattern of Egypt's Transnational Repression Targeting Exiled Dissidents

Joint Statement: Tantawi’s Interrogation in Connection with New Cases Reflects Egyptian Authorities’ Continued Persecution of Dissidents

Joint Statement: Rights Organizations Condemn Violations in Egypt's Badr 3 Prison as Multiple Prisoners Attempt Suicide

Joint Statement: Rights Groups Demand Justice for Unlawful Killing of Two and the Arbitrary Arrest of Dozens of Women in Marsa Matrouh, Egypt

Joint Statement: The Blocking of Zawia 3 is a Serious Escalation in Egypt’s Restrictions on Press Freedom

Letters and Statements

As Laila Soueif Begins Full Hunger Strike, 32 Human Rights Organizations Send Letter to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Joint Letter: Urgent Appeal for the Immediate Release of Abdulrahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi

Joint Letter – Urgent Appeal for a Presidential Pardon for Alaa Abdel-Fattah

Joint Letter to UAE Urgently Calling for Release and End to the Enforced Disappearance of Poet Abdulrahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi

MEDC in the News

Yasmin Omar

Seth Binder

Seth Binder

Seth Binder

Seth Binder

Seth Binder

Seth Binder

The Freedom Initiative

Seth Binder

Seth Binder

Congressional Testimony

POMED’S Amy Hawthorne Testifies on Egypt before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs

POMED's Andrew Miller Testifies on Egypt before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Amy Hawthorne Testifies on Egypt before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission

Events

Sisi’s Hollowed State: Ten Years of Autocracy in Egypt

Sisi's Egypt: Ten Years Since the Coup

African Human Rights Leaders Summit

Support Our Work

Donate now to support our work to free the unjustly detained and advocate for U.S. policies that protect human rights and democracy.

Your support helps MEDC continue our expert analysis and research, nonpartisan advocacy efforts, and partnerships with grassroots organizations in the MENA region.