Section One: Political Parties
Introduction:
- The Shura Council elections have ended, elections that most Egyptians hardly noticed. Their outcome came exactly as the executive authority, the regime, and the security services had planned, with the seats pre-allocated among parties close to the authorities. Preparations have now begun for the parliamentary elections, which most opposition parties have announced they will boycott, or at best take part in only through individual candidacy seats.
Homeland Future Party (Mostaqbal Watan):
The Mostaqbal Watan Party announced its victory in the 2025 Egyptian Senate elections, securing 44 seats within the “For the Sake of Egypt” national list, representing 44% of the total list seats. Naturally, the party held celebrations and expanded its service activities, such as providing meat and distributing wheelchairs to people with special needs.
Homeland Protectors Party (Humat el Watan):
The Homeland Protectors Party won 19 seats in the Senate elections as part of the national list coalition. It also carried out charitable services for citizens, such as medical convoys in Minya and others in Sohag, as well as sponsoring Umrah trips for some citizens.
National Front Party (Al Gabha Al Wataneyya):
This new party received its promised share in the Senate elections—12 seats. Like other parties created by the regime and its apparatus, it continued its activities by establishing branches and committees as part of being a new party.
Al-Nour Salafi Party:
The results of the 2025 Egyptian Senate elections marked a complete defeat for the Salafi Al-Nour Party, after all of its candidates failed to secure any seats, whether through the list system or individual seats. The party showed no activity during the month, as if mourning its fate.
The Egyptian Democratic Social Party:
…they formed what is known as the National List for Egypt, through which they distributed Senate seats in the upcoming elections as follows:
- Nation’s Future Party: 44 seats
- National Front Party: 12 seats
- Homeland Defenders Party: 19 seats
- Egyptian Social Democratic Party: 5 seats
The Conservatives Party (Al Mohafezeen):
The party announced its complete rejection of participation in the elections, citing its objection to both the list-based system and the overall electoral process.
Free Egyptians Party (Al-Masreyeen Al-Ahrar)
After a long period of absence, a party representative appeared this month on a channel owned by a sovereign body, complaining about the party’s exclusion from the national list. He considered the decision to be wrong and aimed at embarrassing the party during the elections.
The Constitution Party (Al Dostour):
Party leader Gameela Ismail announced the end of her tenure and her decision not to seek another term.
- On July 10, the party prepared for its first participation in parliamentary elections since its founding, fielding official candidates for the House of Representatives. The political bureau is actively planning and organizing efforts to ensure a strong electoral campaign.
- On July 15, an extended organizational meeting was held at the party’s headquarters in Cairo, attended by members planning to run in the 2025 elections, with Gameela Ismail present.
- On July 18, the party officially announced that the term of the current party leader would end on July 31, 2025.
The Popular Socialist Alliance Party:
The party has consistently opposed government-drafted legislation and firmly rejected participation in the upcoming Senate elections.
- On July 20, the party’s political bureau issued a statement confirming its boycott of the Senate elections, reiterating its view that the Senate is a redundant body with no real authority and a financial burden on a poor country. It also criticized the president’s power to appoint one-third of its members to expand loyalist influence. The party refused to participate either through nomination or appointment.
The Bread and Freedom Party (Under Formation):
The party has expressed its opposition to the old rent law issued by the government and declared it would not participate in what it described as the so-called Senate elections.
Egyptian Communist Party
The party announced its boycott of the Senate elections. In a meeting that included the political bureau, central committee members, and provincial representatives, the party decided not to participate in the House of Representatives elections—neither through lists nor individual candidacy.
This decision was based on their rejection—both in form and substance—of the widely criticized electoral law governing both list and individual systems.
The Revolutionary Socialists Movement:
The movement rejected the old rent law and mourned the deaths of 18 young women who died in a road accident in the Monufia governorate. It called on trade unions and political movements to pressure for the dismissal of the ministers of Labor, Transport, and Industry.
- On July 8, the movement declared full solidarity with all political prisoners in Badr 3 prison, regardless of their ideological or political affiliations. It specifically mentioned Islamist detainees, who have long been subjected to severe repression and isolation, and remain deprived of their most basic rights—including access to decent living conditions, healthcare, and communication with their families.
Section 2: Professional and Labor Unions
Professional Unions:
Union of Medical Professions
The Union of Medical Professions appealed to the President of the Republic not to ratify the government’s newly proposed Old Rent Law, recently passed by the House of Representatives. The Union called for the draft law to be returned to parliament for broad societal dialogue, more in-depth study, and better legislative balance—particularly regarding pharmacies and private clinics.
The Veterinarians’ Syndicate
The General Syndicate of Veterinarians announced that the Central Agency for Organization and Administration approved the Syndicate President’s request to fill 4,763 veterinarian positions through permanent appointments rather than temporary contracting.
The Dental Syndicate
The General Syndicate of Dentists launched an awareness campaign under the slogan “Think Before You Decide”, targeting parents and high school students who aspire to join universities in the 2025–2026 academic year.
The campaign highlights challenges facing future dentistry students, including the surplus of graduates, limited postgraduate opportunities, the status of public service placements, private sector job prospects, and options for working abroad.
Medical Doctors Syndicate
Dr. Osama Abdel-Hay, President of the Doctors Syndicate, inaugurated the new permanent headquarters of the Qena Doctors Syndicate.
The General Committee overseeing the midterm elections of the Doctors Syndicate, headed by Dr. Amr Mohamed Ali, announced the list of candidates after reviewing and ruling on appeals. The final list will be published on August 10, with elections scheduled for Friday, October 10.
The vote will cover half the seats of the General Syndicate Council (12 seats in total): 3 seats for those above age limit, 3 seats for those below age limit, 6 sector-specific seats, Plus half of the seats in regional branch syndicates.
General Syndicate of Pharmacists of Egypt
Dr. Saeed Shamaa, Head of the Dakahlia Pharmacists Syndicate, stated that the agreement on the withdrawal of expired medications faces serious implementation challenges—primarily due to poor cooperation from pharmaceutical companies and distributors, and the technical difficulties many pharmacists, especially in rural areas, face in using the designated online system.
The Egyptian Drug Authority announced that 54% of pharmacies nationwide have registered on the platform, covering 17 million expired drug units. This progress coincides with the extension of the registration period to July 30, ahead of the actual withdrawal phase, which will last three months and end on October 30, 2025.
The Journalists’ Syndicate
Dozens of temporary journalists working at state-owned newspapers organized a protest on July 1 on the steps of the Journalists Syndicate, demanding permanent employment.
Engineers’ Syndicate
The Civil Engineering Division, chaired by consulting engineer Ahmed Hashish, held a seminar titled “Challenges in Executing the Greater Cairo Monorail Project”.
The seminar featured engineer Ramses Fahmy, General Manager of Construction Quality Control and Project Manager at Orascom Construction.
Fahmy explained that this is Egypt’s first monorail project, known for its speed, modernity, high safety, and environmental friendliness, as it helps reduce fuel consumption and pollution. Additionally, the monorail is expected to ease traffic congestion on main roads and serve as a convenient mode of transportation without requiring major infrastructure changes.
The Lawyers’ Syndicate
The Lawyers Syndicate announced the postponement of a planned strike, originally scheduled for July 7 and 8, in protest against increased litigation fees. The postponement follows recent developments, including the restructuring of the Supreme Judicial Council and communication with presidents of appellate courts responsible for the contested decisions.
The Syndicate noted signs of a genuine willingness from relevant authorities to resume dialogue and resolve the crisis in a way that benefits the public and legal professionals.
The Syndicate President had previously called for a joint meeting between the General Syndicate Council and branch heads nationwide to make a final decision on the strike.
Part Two: Labor Unions
The Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS):
Rahma Refaat, Legal Programs Coordinator at the CTUWS, explained that the new labor law, set to come into effect in September, still requires the issuance of several executive decisions to be fully implemented. Some of these decisions will be issued by the Prime Minister, and others by the Minister of Labor.
Committee for Freedoms and Defense of Labor Rights:
The Committee condemned Misr Spinning and Weaving Company (Ghazl El Mahalla) for hiring workers through a subcontracting labor agency at wages below the minimum wage of 7,000 EGP. The committee described this as a “blatant violation” and a clear assault on workers’ rights, calling it a “disguised privatization of public jobs that opens the door wide to manipulation of thousands of workers’ futures.”
Construction Workers Union:
Yasser Abdel Meguid, head of the Construction Workers Union in Gharbia, criticized what he described as “a complete absence of social justice” in the law’s treatment of millions of informal sector workers. He stressed that these workers don’t even feel the presence of the law, and that their only contact with the Ministry is as a “source of income” in the form of fees for skill assessment and work permits.
Service Drivers Union:
The head of the Service Drivers Union in Gharbia emphasized the urgent need to activate the Irregular Employment Fund, especially for drivers who receive no benefits despite making contributions. He also called for the unification of executive regulations in line with the social insurance law to protect these groups.
Ambulance Authority Workers:
On July 7, the first trial session was held for Sameh Zakaria, an ambulance worker accused of joining a terrorist group (the Muslim Brotherhood), funding it, and spreading false news. The court postponed the case to October 4, 2025, to hear prosecution witnesses. Sameh Zakaria is known for being a dedicated worker at the Ambulance Authority. His commitment earned him a place in the authority’s rapid response teams responsible for attending international conferences and securing high-level state officials.
Child Labor:
- Nineteen people died—eighteen of them girls aged between 13 and 15, along with the bus driver—in a horrific collision on the regional road in Ashmoun, Menoufia Governorate.
- The girls were on their way to a worksite where they earned a daily wage of no more than 130 EGP (2.67 USD) when their bus collided with a heavy transport truck. They died before they even understood the concept of the “labor market” into which they were thrown as minors, unprotected and outside the law.
- The children were being paid daily wages of no more than 130 EGP and were transported in a vehicle not suited for passenger transport, on a road notorious for accidents and lacking any traffic barriers or effective safety measures—reflecting the lack of oversight on work-related transportation, especially in rural areas and the informal sector.
The Egyptian Trade Unions Federation (ETUF):
- The General Federation of Egyptian Trade Unions hosted a high-level delegation from the General Federation of Palestinian Workers, reinforcing Arab trade union solidarity and reaffirming the strong historical ties between the two peoples.
- Eid Mersal, Secretary General of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation and head of the General Union of Agricultural Workers, announced that the federation has started updating labor union data in preparation for the upcoming 2026–2030 union elections. He explained that an official circular was sent to all 27 general unions detailing the update mechanism and timeline. The Ministry has granted a three-month deadline from July 1 to the end of September to complete the update process.
Section Three: Human Rights Movements and Institutions
Key Activities, Publications, and Initiatives of Human Rights Institutions
The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR):
- On July 10, the Council formed operational committees to monitor the Senate elections to ensure the voluntary electoral process with accuracy and objectivity.
- On July 14, the Council held a workshop titled “Women’s Rights in Light of the New Personal Status Law: Towards a Balanced Law for a Productive Society.”
- On July 17, the Council organized a roundtable titled “Enhancing the Role of Civil Society in Providing Healthcare Services.”
- The Council also held a consultative meeting with the Human Rights Committee of the Egyptian Parliament and the National Human Rights Commission to support human rights through national and legislative frameworks.
- On July 22, the Council held a celebration with the EU and media professionals titled “The Role of Press and Media in Monitoring the Electoral Process Between Professionalism and Human Rights Responsibility” in preparation for covering the 2025 Senate elections.
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR):
- On July 7, the Initiative opposed the proposed amendment to the Education Law submitted to Parliament just days before the session ended, criticizing the lack of serious societal dialogue or study of its consequences for millions of Egyptian families.
- The Initiative renewed its call for the release of its client, translator Marwa Arafa, whose trial began on July 6 after more than five years of pretrial detention.
- On July 20, it published infographics about death penalty rulings in Egypt during the first half of 2025 and specifically for June 2025.
The Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF):
- The Executive Director participated and spoke at a side event during the 59th session of the Human Rights Council on monitoring Egypt’s human rights commitments.
- The “Save Freedom of Opinion” campaign expressed full solidarity with temporary journalists in state-owned newspapers, supporting their rightful demands for permanent employment after years of working under unfair and degrading conditions.
The Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS):
- On July 2, the Committee for Trade Union Freedoms condemned abuses at Misr Spinning and Weaving Company in Mahalla against job applicants, noting that employment was announced but then outsourced to a private labor agency, violating workers’ rights.
- On July 13, CTUWS held a seminar in Mahalla on Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 titled “Beyond the Labor Law” ahead of its implementation in September.
- On July 20, CTUWS announced that Ghazl El Mahalla management had arbitrarily referred worker Othman El-Gendy for investigation after he expressed discontent over medical neglect in the company hospital.
The New Woman Foundation:
- On July 6, the Foundation held a knowledge exchange workshop on workplace violence protection policies under the project “Enhancing the Role of Trade Unions and NGOs in Implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda from a Gender Perspective” in Qena.
- On July 13, it held a participatory session on cooperatives, in celebration of International Cooperatives Day, covering their definition, characteristics, and comparison with other structures like companies and charities.
Masar – Community for Technology and Law
- Masar published several research papers in July:
- “Digital Rights in Egypt and IPv6: Toward a More Efficient, Free, and Inclusive Internet.”
- “Network Choke: Analysis of the Ramses Central Office Fire and Its Impact on Internet Connectivity.”
- “E-Government in Egypt: A Critical Review of Regulatory Requirements and Limited Access for Marginalized Groups.”
Center for Egyptian Women LegalAssistance (CEWLA):
- The center organized two medical caravans on July 12 and 13 in El-Zabbo and El-Qasr villages in the Bahariya Oasis.
- On July 18, conducted a legal awareness seminar on personal status laws at the Ikrama Foundation in Shubra El-Kheima with 31 women from Qalyubia Governorate attending.
- On July 20, held a refresher meeting in the Bahariya Oasis for 30 previously trained service providers.
Egyptian Network for Human Rights:
- On July 1, documented pleas from women to end routine harassment and invasive searches of visitors at Minya maximum-security prison.
- On July 6, received verified testimonies from New Valley Prison (known as the “Death Prison”) about abuse of political detainees.
- On July 7, reported that cardiologist Dr. Abdel Rahim Mohamed attempted suicide in Badr 3 Prison due to harsh treatment and deadly detention conditions.
- On July 9, reported the disappearance of seven political prisoners from cell 29 in Tenth of Ramadan Prison and their exposure to brutal beatings and torture.
- On July 11, documented the death of detainee Abdel Moneim Abdel Basset after being denied treatment at Faqus Police Station.
- On July 13, reported the death of detainee Reda Ali Mansour in Borg Al-Arab Prison after a decline in health.
- Also recorded an attempted suicide by political detainee Mohamed Anis Mohamed El-Sharif inside a courtroom cage in case No. 26/2021.
- On July 19, reported that Dr. Abdullah Shahat attempted suicide twice within days at Badr 3 Prison, showing deteriorating detention conditions and ongoing inhumane treatment.
- On July 20, documented security raids arresting several activists over their online objections to insults made by some Saudi citizens toward Egypt.
Joint Human Rights Activities:
- On July 5, rights organizations declared full support for the Bar Association’s strike on July 7 and 8, protesting arbitrary fee increases imposed by the Cairo Court of Appeals.
- On July 11, expressed grave concern for Egyptian academic Dr. Salah Sultan’s critical health condition while in Badr 1 Prison. A U.S. permanent resident, he faces increasing risk of sudden death, prompting calls for his immediate release.
- On July 12, 15 rights groups from six Arab countries announced the formation of a regional coalition to promote judicial independence and defend justice and freedoms in the Arab world.
Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights
- On July 6, published a position paper titled “From Free Access to Restriction: Changes in Litigation Rights Amid the Judicial Fees Crisis.”
- On July 8, filed a lawsuit to enforce penalties for using blinding headlights in cars, aiming to protect lives.
- On July 13, filed a lawsuit before the Administrative Court against the Prime Minister and others for their failure to raise the maximum alimony paid by Nasser Social Bank to divorced women and their children with court-ordered support.
Violations and Harassment:
Detention Renewals
- On July 6, 2025, the First Terrorism Circuit at the Criminal Court decided to renew the detention of Ahmed Geika and two other defendants for 45 days.
- On July 12, 2025, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court renewed the detention of Nermin Hussein for an additional 45 days in Case No. 65 of 2021 (Supreme State Security Prosecution), in violation of the law.
- On July 14, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court renewed the detention of Okba Alaa Labib Hashad for 45 days pending Case No. 3391 of 2023.
- On July 15, the Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of journalist Magdy Yehia Mohamed Ghoneim for 15 days in Case No. 4480 of 2025 (Supreme State Security Prosecution).
Trials
- On July 7, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court postponed the trial of paramedic employee Sameh Zakaria in Case No. 2412 of 2022 (Supreme State Security) — registered as No. 22697 of 2024, First Settlement Criminal Court — to October 4 for hearing prosecution witnesses.
- On July 20, the Cairo Criminal Court renewed the detention of journalist Mohamed Saad Khattab for 45 days in Case No. 2063 of 2023 (Supreme State Security Prosecution).
Legal Victories
- On July 2, 2025, the Supreme State Security Prosecution ordered the release of Ayman Essam, the legal advisor to the Tenants’ Association for Old Rent Contracts, on the guarantee of his residence in Case No. 4881 of 2025 (Supreme State Security Prosecution), after the House of Representatives passed the government-proposed bill and sent it to the President as a final step.
- On July 9, the Second Circuit at the Criminal Court in Wadi Al-Natroun acquitted three defendants — Hassan Said Kamel, Mahmoud Bakr Mohamed, and Mohamed Abdelrahman — in Case No. 10296 of 2025, Khosous Criminal Court.
- On July 21, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court ordered the removal of several defendants from the terrorism list, including activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah.