Section One: Political Parties
Introduction:
Political parties, especially those close to the authorities, became active in their activities and charitable work in preparation for the parliamentary elections. During this time, a crisis erupted in the Homeland Protectors Party when one of its female members went live on social media accusing the party of receiving money in exchange for securing a seat in parliament!
Homeland Future Party (Mostaqbal Watan):
The party intensified its activities and charitable initiatives in a number of governorates, including:
- A free medical convoy in the village of Beit Dawood, Girga Center, Sohag.
- A community initiative to sell fresh meat at reduced prices in Nuweiba, South Sinai.
- An expanded exhibition in Fayoum to provide school supplies and sweets for the Prophet’s birthday.
- School supply fairs in Al-Ayyat and Tahta, Sohag.
Homeland Protectors Party (Humat el Watan):
This pro-government party witnessed a wave of resignations this month after widespread internal complaints and crises regarding demands for huge financial payments in exchange for obtaining parliamentary seats, in addition to nominating individuals from outside the party. A video spread of party member Hanan Sharshar confirming that sums of money—up to 25 million EGP—were demanded in return for a seat.
Alongside this, the party carried out its usual charitable activities.
National Front Party (Al Gabha Al Wataneyya):
This month saw notable international media activity from the National Front Party, such as expressing solidarity with besieged Gaza, criticizing the military escalation against Qatar, and affirming its rejection of forced displacement policies.
All of these activities came as support and praise for the government’s and the president’s official positions.
Al-Nour Salafi Party:
The Salafi Al-Nour Party failed to achieve any significant success in the recent Shura Council elections. So far, the party has not officially announced its position on contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Its only public stances were limited to rejecting the displacement of Gaza residents and condemning the military offensive against Qatar.
The Conservatives Party (Al Mohafezeen):
The party’s most important decision this month was to participate in the elections and form an alliance with the Constitution Party, in addition to holding cultural seminars such as:
- An intellectual evening titled “TikTok: A Platform for Freedom or a Space of Guardianship?” with a group of researchers, writers, and media professionals.
- A seminar on “The Future of STEM Students and the Challenges of University Placement.”
- A seminar on “The Social Impacts of the Old Rental Law.”
The Egyptian Social Democratic Party:
- This month, the party focused on local governance issues and internal crises, demanding details on the theft of ancient bracelets, and paying particular attention to the challenges accompanying the start of the school year. At the same time, it continued meetings with ambassadors of foreign countries to enhance international dialogue on Egyptian affairs.
- It also declared outright rejection and condemnation of the Israeli aggression against Qatar and the targeting of Palestinian negotiators during their discussions of a U.S.-proposed initiative.
Civil Democratic Movement:
- The movement showed relative calm this month, with its last statement welcoming the release of Alaa Abdel Fattah.
- It announced full support for the “Egyptian Summud Flotilla” to break the Israeli siege, provide field and relief support for Gaza’s people, and thwart plans of displacement and genocide.
- It also issued a statement praising the president’s positive response in refusing to ratify the current form of the Criminal Procedures Law and returning it to parliament.
The Constitution Party (Al Dostour):
- The State Commissioners Authority resolved the party’s internal crisis, and its first move afterwards was announcing an electoral alliance with the Conservative Party under the name “The Free Path” in preparation for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
- The party strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks about what he called the “voluntary departure” of Palestinians from Gaza, describing it as an attempt to legitimize forced displacement.
- On September 15, the party chairwoman praised Egypt’s official stance and called for supporting the “Summud Flotilla” while emphasizing the importance of Egyptian solidarity and public participation.
- On September 23, the party expressed solidarity with the parents of students at Anas Ibn Malik Primary School in Salam City during their protest against transferring their children to the distant Abdel Rahman Ibn Awf Primary School, which also suffers from environmental and social problems in its surroundings.
The Bread and Freedom Party (Under Formation):
Although still in formation, the Bread and Freedom Party was notably active this month. It officially announced its intention to contest the parliamentary elections, issued a statement of solidarity with workers at Lenin Group Company in Alexandria, and opened its headquarters to host a Summud Flotilla event.
The Dignity Party (Al-Karama):
The party’s activity this month was limited to issuing a statement condemning Israel’s bombing of Qatar, celebrating Farmers’ Day, and hosting a Summud Flotilla event.
The Popular Socialist Alliance Party:
This month, the party announced its intention to participate in the parliamentary elections and focused on forced evictions of residents in Toson, Alexandria. It also expressed solidarity with striking sugar factory workers demanding implementation of the minimum wage.
Hope Current Party (Tayyar Al Amal – under establishment):
This month, the party limited its activity to issuing three statements condemning the targeting of residential towers in Gaza, while also announcing its desire to form a unified electoral alliance that includes all opposition parties in preparation for the upcoming elections.
The party also welcomed the release of Alaa Abdel Fattah, describing it as a positive step toward easing restrictions on freedoms.
The Revolutionary Socialists Movement:
- The movement announced its support for participating in the parliamentary elections and solidarity with the people of Toson, threatened with displacement in Alexandria.
- It also supported the strike of sugar factory workers in Aswan.
- Additionally, it expressed solidarity with the strike of Nile Linen Group textile and furnishings workers.
Section 2: Professional and Labor Unions
Professional Unions:
The Journalists’ Syndicate:
- The Syndicate’s Freedoms Committee called for the release of all imprisoned journalists detained in opinion and expression cases, especially those held over solidarity with Palestine.
- Syndicate president Khaled El-Balshy stressed the need to take advantage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s directives on developing Egyptian media, and to move towards setting a roadmap for advancing journalism.
Engineers’ Syndicate:
- In a statement, the head of the Engineers’ Syndicate said that, based on the decision of the Supreme Council for Private Higher Institutes, Dr. Gouda Ghanem, Secretary of the Council, insisted on implementing the decision to reject the admission of technical diploma holders to private engineering institutes unless they pass the equivalency exam, as is required in public universities, despite facing strong pressures.
- The head of the Engineers’ Syndicate affirmed that the council adopts a central principle of considering training the main mission through which the syndicate seeks to deliver the broadest range of services to engineers. He explained that this approach represents an important project being carried out by the syndicate, which has already yielded tangible positive results.
Judges Club:
On September 7, Counselor Osama Shalaby, President of the State Council, presided over the swearing-in ceremony of new male and female judges, in a historic precedent since the council’s founding, as the new cohort included both men and women judges together.
The Lawyers’ Syndicate:
The Lawyers’ Syndicate welcomed President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s decision to return the Criminal Procedures Law bill to parliament for reconsideration of its disputed articles, affirming that the step reflects the state’s keenness to enhance constitutional guarantees and protect rights and freedoms.
In his speech, the syndicate president indicated that the body is seeking legislative amendments to the Advocacy Law to fulfill lawyers’ ambitions and aspirations.
The Teachers Syndicate:
- Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, confirmed that the ministry implemented top-level training programs to qualify teachers, ensuring the enhancement of their professional efficiency and ability to keep pace with reforms.
- Several Azhar regions announced the acceptance of Al-Azhar graduates from Arabic and Sharia faculties to perform public service in teaching the Qur’an in institutes, with a monthly stipend of 700 EGP.
The Nurses Syndicate:
The Ministry of Labor announced the provision of 50 nursing job opportunities in the United Arab Emirates, meeting the needs of ASTER Medical Group hospitals and clinics, which requested these new cadres.
The Media Professionals Syndicate
- Syndicate president Tarek Saada stated that satisfactorily developing journalism and media requires a comprehensive structural vision, alongside the need for continued discussion and dialogue on the matter.
- He praised the presidential directives to establish a roadmap for developing Egyptian media and placing it in its deserved standing.
Medical Doctors Syndicate:
- The General Committee supervising the mid-term elections of the Doctors’ Syndicate, chaired by Dr. Amr Mohamed Ali, called on all doctors to actively participate and vote in the elections scheduled for October 10.
- Dr. Ibrahim El-Zayat, member of the Syndicate Council, affirmed that treating any patient arriving at the emergency department is a humanitarian and legal obligation for all hospitals—whether governmental, university, or private—regardless of the patient’s nationality or financial status.
He added that the recent tragedy of a media professional who was denied emergency entry for not having 1,400 EGP (29 USD), which led to her death, highlights systemic failures. He stressed that such incidents are unacceptable and must not be repeated.
The Veterinarians’ Syndicate:
- Dr. Magdy Hassan, president of the General Syndicate of Veterinary Doctors, stated that the syndicate is experiencing a new phase of institutional, financial, and administrative reform, which has boosted its resources and activated social and medical welfare funds for members and their families.
- He revealed the creation of a Cancer Fund, from which around 406,000 EGP (8400 USD) has been disbursed, with about 600,000 EGP (12,400 USD) currently available. He added that a new fund will also be launched to provide financial support for orphans.
The Dental Syndicate:
The Ministry of Health and Population participated in the 10th annual conference of the General Syndicate of Dentists (EDSIC), held from September 3–5, 2025, which hosted over 6,000 dentists from Egypt and abroad, along with 180 local and international speakers. The event enhanced opportunities for exchanging expertise and knowledge.
Part Two: Labor Unions
Textile
- On September 14, the union of workers at Nile Linen Group for textiles and furnishings in the free zone in Alexandria, under pressure from a strike by the company’s workers, reached an agreement with management to investigate those responsible for the death of the infant daughter of worker Doaa Ahmed Afifi, pay the necessary compensation, and respond to the workers’ financial demands.
- Female workers in the automatic tailoring department had gone on strike after the infant’s death, caused by management’s refusal to allow her mother time off to take her to the hospital to save her life. The next day, workers from other departments joined the strike.
Food Industries
- A wave of strikes broke out in sugar factories in Upper Egypt in the first week of September. Workers at Kom Ombo and Edfu factories in Aswan continued their strike for two weeks, later joined by workers at the Deshna sugar factory in Qena and the Armant factory in Luxor.
- Workers at Al-Shamadan Food Industries Company in Dekheila, Alexandria, staged a protest over their low wages, strict working conditions, and the company’s noncompliance with labor law provisions.
Workers in Journalism and Media
- On August 26, employees and administrators at the state-owned press institution Akhbar Al-Youm in Cairo prevented board chairman Osama Afifi from entering the building, protesting delays in disbursing medical insurance medicines, which endangered the lives of chronic patients, and demanding the payment of a profit share before the school year.
A few hours later, the National Press Authority, responsible for managing state newspapers, sent a delegate who met the protesters and conveyed the authority president’s approval of their demands. - The National Press Authority organized a broad session with representatives of the General Union of Workers in Journalism, Printing, and Media, along with committee representatives from national press institutions, to hear ideas and proposals on a roadmap for developing the media system, ensuring responsiveness to rapid regional and global changes, and enabling Egyptian media to fully perform its mission.
The Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS):
- On September 16, CTUWS launched its program “Climate Change… Just Transition”, coinciding with the international climate conference (COP30) held in Belém, Brazil, from November 10–21, 2025
- The CTUWS Workers’ School opened a new academic year of its specialized program “Preparing Union and Labor Leaders”, one of its flagship training initiatives, now in its fifth year, continuing its mission to support and empower the labor and trade union movement to carry out its roles effectively.
Committee for Freedoms and the Defense of Labor Rights
- The committee expressed concern that some administrative procedures related to updating databases are being used as obstacles, particularly against independent unions, stressing that bureaucratic barriers could affect the integrity of the electoral process and limit workers’ participation.
- CTUWS organized a seminar on September 30 on “The Concept of the Minimum Wage and the Concept of Wage Gradation”, based on decisions of the Supreme Council for Wages. It affirmed that these decisions are binding and apply to all sectors, including the private sector.
Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF)
- On September 11, the Egyptian Youth Council, in cooperation with ETUF, organized the National Human Rights Strategy Forum.
- The forum aimed to review achievements of recent years and open a broad national dialogue on challenges and opportunities to strengthen rights and freedoms, and to support community participation in shaping the future.
Child Labor
- MP Khaled Tantawy submitted a parliamentary question to Speaker of the House of Representatives Dr. Hanafi Gebali, directed to Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Labor Mohamed Gebran, Minister of Education Mohamed Abdel Latif, and Minister of Local Development Manal Awad, regarding criminalizing child labor before the age of 15 and ensuring strict enforcement of the new labor law provisions.
Engineering Industries
- Workers at Misr Aluminum Company (a public sector company) in Nag Hammadi ended their sit-in after four days, following partial management concessions to their demands. Management promised not to reclaim loans previously deducted against profit guarantees, and agreed to increase the meal allowance and the cash transportation allowance in line with the latest railway authority updates.
Section Three: Human Rights Movements and Institutions
Key Activities, Publications, and Initiatives of Human Rights Institutions
The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR):
- After a long silence, the NCHR appealed to the President of the Republic to use his constitutional powers to issue a presidential pardon for those convicted—“activist Alaa Abdel Fattah and 6 others”—due to their social circumstances.
- On September 10, the Council organized an important workshop titled “Effective Employment of Persons with Disabilities in Light of the New Labor Law No. 14 of 2025” at its headquarters in Fifth Settlement.
- On September 13, the Council held a consultative meeting bringing together civil society organizations and the African Human Rights Network, within the framework of evaluating the human rights situation in Egypt and reviewing the file of rights and freedoms.
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR):
- On September 1, 2025, EIPR welcomed the package of measures issued by the Minister of Health to impose new standards aimed at promoting natural childbirth and reducing unnecessary C-sections.
- EIPR published a research paper on the new labor law titled “A Tilted Scale… The New Labor Law Entrenches Impoverishment, Discrimination, and Restricts Strikes.”
- On September 10, EIPR released a statement about human rights lawyer Ibrahim Metwally, founder of the Association of the Families of the Forcibly Disappeared, highlighting his detention and health condition: 8 years in custody pending three State Security cases, despite similar charges, and the violations he suffered during periods of arbitrary detention.
- On September 11, EIPR strongly urged all participants to withdraw from the upcoming World Summit on Counter-Terrorism, organized by the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, a research institute affiliated with Reichman University in Israel.
The Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF):
- On September 6, 2025, ECRF published a video explaining the mechanisms of government implementation following the ratification and enforcement of the new Rent Law No. 164 of 2025.
- On September 9, ECRF issued its newsletter for the Human Rights Culture Promotion Program for July and August 2025.
- On September 23, ECRF welcomed the pardon granted to activist and blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah, and renewed its demand for the immediate release of blogger-journalist “Mohamed Oxygen,” the last detainee in the same case.
The Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS):
- On September 1, 2025, through its Know Your Rights series, CTUWS published educational videos for workers on their rights and obligations, and on litigation procedures before newly structured labor courts under the new labor law.
- On September 4, CTUWS announced the continued strike of workers at the Edfu and Kom Ombo sugar factories for the 12th consecutive day.
- On September 8, CTUWS expressed deep concern over systematic discriminatory practices against members of the Shorbagy Textile Company’s union committee—beginning with suspension of the committee’s activities, forcing members to stop work under the pretext of an “open mission,” and extending to denial of financial entitlements, discriminatory treatment in bonuses, and their suspension.
- On September 21, CTUWS announced that workers at Misr Aluminum Company in Nag Hammadi ended their sit-in after four days, following partial management concessions to their financial and workplace demands.
- On September 24, CTUWS expressed strong concern and condemnation over the Ministry of Labor’s continued unjustified delay in deciding on requests submitted since 2022 to establish a professional union committee for quality workers, as well as union committees submitted by workers in Suez and Ismailia during 2023–2025.
The New Woman Foundation:
Throughout the month, NWF held various meetings and activities:
- Organized a roundtable titled “Enhancing the Role of Gender Equality Units for a Safe and Fair Work Environment for Women.”
- Published a research paper: “A Feminist Reading of the Unified Draft Law on Combating Violence Against Women.”
- Participated in a cultural evening organized by the Conservative Party under the theme “Tik-Toks: A Platform for Freedom or a Space of Control, and Their Impact on Women and the Labor Market in Egypt.”
- Published a commentary paper on “The Draft Criminal Procedure Code in the Absence of a Gender Perspective”, in light of the President’s referral of the draft law back to Parliament.
Masar – Community for Technology and Law
During the month, Masar published several research papers and legal memos:
- A paper on the issuance of a comprehensive law on artificial intelligence in Egypt.
- A legal paper highlighting the legal and institutional framework for spectrum management in Egypt.
- A paper discussing the risks of uncontrolled expansion of criminalization under the label of “cybercrime” and its impact on fundamental rights and freedoms.
- A research paper titled “Modern Work Patterns in the New Labor Law: Between Legislative Recognition and Implementation Challenges”, in cooperation with Defenders Office (Khaled Ali Law Firm).
Center for Egyptian Women LegalAssistance (CEWLA):
Throughout the month, CEWLA held several meetings and activities:
- Organized a youth camp with interactive sessions on core concepts of gender and gender justice, and an introduction to Egypt’s personal status laws.
- Held activation meetings with university youth groups on placing reproductive and sexual health issues on the community agenda, exchanging experiences, and discussing challenges.
- Organized 3 awareness seminars with 90 girls and women across local communities in Greater Cairo on digital safety and protecting women and girls from online violence.
- Held a discussion circle titled “Peace with a Feminist Pulse” at Bayt al-Sinnari.
- Conducted an intensive 6-day training workshop with 27 teachers on using reproductive health and sex education curricula with students and parents.
- Organized a training course titled “The Psychological Impact of Social Culture and Its Effect on the Practice of Violence.”
Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR):
- On September 2, 2025, ECESR filed a lawsuit demanding that official images of judicial rulings be made available through the electronic portal for lawyers without the need for a power of attorney.
- On September 7, ECESR began publishing a series of daily posts explaining the main changes, rights, and guarantees introduced by the new labor law.
Joint Human Rights Activities:
- On September 1, 2025, human rights organizations expressed deep concern over the continued enforced disappearance of student Ahmed Hassan Mostafa, missing for more than 6 years and 4 months, and renewed their demand for immediate disclosure of his fate, granting his family and lawyer access to his place and conditions of detention, and investigating all complaints filed by his family regarding his disappearance.
- On September 14, human rights organizations expressed grave concern over the severe deterioration of the health condition of lawyer and human rights defender Hoda Abdel Moneim, held in pretrial detention for 7 years, despite suffering from chronic and serious illnesses that directly threaten her life.
- On September 18, human rights organizations criticized the Egyptian government’s response to a letter from seven UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteurs regarding the situation of Egyptian Baha’is; the response limited itself to stating Egypt’s commitment to its obligations under the Constitution and human rights treaties it had signed, while ignoring the violations and failing to provide any guarantees or commitments to end these violations or address the legal gaps that allow them.
- On September 23, Egyptian and international civil society organizations welcomed the President’s decision not to ratify the draft Criminal Procedure Code and to return it to Parliament for reconsideration of objections to its provisions. Parliament announced it would hold an emergency session on October 1 to discuss the matter.
Violations and Harassment:
Detention Renewals
- On September 4, 2025, the First Terrorism Circuit of the Cairo Criminal Court decided to renew the detention of police sergeant Abdel-Gawad Mohamed Abdel-Gawad Al-Sahlami from the Dekheila Police Department for 45 days pending Case No. 717 of 2024 (Supreme State Security).
- On September 13, 2025, the Supreme State Security Prosecution ordered the detention of Abdullah El-Sayed, a resident of the Tosson area and activist in protests against the demolition of their homes, for 15 days pending investigation in Case No. 6819 of 2025 (Supreme State Security).
- On September 15, the Second Terrorism Circuit of the Cairo Criminal Court renewed the detention of journalist and writer Sayed Saber for 45 days pending Case No. 6499 of 2024, and renewed the detention of Nourhan El-Sayed Ahmed Deraz for the same period pending Case No. 3528 of 2024.
- On September 24, the State Security Prosecution ordered the detention of researcher Ismail Alexandrani for 15 days pending a new case, No. 6469 of 2025 (Supreme State Security).
Judicial Rulings:
- On September 3, 2025, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR) obtained a court ruling obligating Al-Midan newspaper to compensate a dismissed journalist with 253,000 EGP.
- On September 11, the Administrative Court accepted the appeal filed by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) against the decision barring activist Mohamed Adel from sitting for his postgraduate exams at Mansoura University for the 2025–2026 academic year.
Legal Victories
- On September 2, 2025, the Supreme State Security Prosecution ordered the release of 33 detainees held in pretrial detention—including journalist Donia Samir Fathy—on various cases with similar charges, some having exceeded the maximum pretrial detention period.
- On September 18, the State Security Prosecution ordered the release of 20 detainees held in pretrial detention—including teacher Yehia Ibrahim Abdel Rahim—on various cases.
- On September 22, the President issued a pardon for political activist Alaa Abdel Fattah and 6 others convicted, following an appeal from the National Council for Human Rights requesting pardon for the remainder of their imposed sentences.