Civil Society in Egypt … November 2023
Parties, Syndicates and Human Rights

Section One: Egyptian Political Parties

Introduction:

 

Throughout November, the actions of most political parties varied from expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and Hamas to engaging in campaigns for presidential candidates in anticipation of the December elections. Notably, there were expressions of support for the potential former presidential candidate Ahmed Al-Tantawi and his supporters, who faced trial. Economic policies and inflation received comparatively less attention during this period.

 

Homeland Future Party (Mostaqbal Watan Party):

 

The majority of the activities of the Homeland Future Party were divided between the preoccupation with the presidential elections, which lacked interest from citizens, and the promotion of the official stance on the conflict in Gaza.

The party held around five mass conferences in Qena, Alexandria, Sinai, and Beni Suef, aimed at endorsing President Sisi in the upcoming elections. These conferences also involved promoting the official stance on the conflict in Palestine.

Furthermore, the party organized a medical caravan in the Beni Suef governorate.

 

The Constitution Party (Al Dostour Party):

 

The primary activities of the Constitution Party in November included demonstrating support for Palestinian resistance, making efforts to provide humanitarian aid whenever possible, and expressing solidarity with the previously potential presidential candidate Ahmed Al-Tantawi following his trial referral.

 

• On October 30, a delegation from the Constitution Party, led by Gamila Ismail, the party president, met with Christian Berger, the Ambassador of the European Union to Egypt to express the party’s disapproval of the European Union’s declared stance on the practices of the Zionist entity, despite the Union’s charters and principles that respect human rights.
• On November 6, the Constitution Party, in collaboration with the Popular Committee to Support Palestine, and the parties of Bread and Freedom (under establishment), the Popular Alliance Party, and Dignity Party launched the first convoy to support the Palestinian people in Gaza. The convoy included clothing, food, and medicines.
• On November 8, the Democratic Civil Movement issued a solidarity statement with the former presidential candidate Ahmed Al-Tantawi, expressing its strong condemnation and deep surprise regarding the sudden decision to urgently refer him and 22 members of his campaign for trial.
• On November 14, members of the Constitution Party and Bread and Freedom Party organized a solidarity demonstration at the Rafah border crossing, following the arrival of a humanitarian aid convoy provided by both parties to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
• On November 16, the Constitution Party participated in the conference of the Democratic Civil Movement in solidarity with Gaza and the lifting of the blockade imposed by the Israeli army.

 

Bread and Freedom Party (Under Establishment):

 

• On October 27, the party called for the opening of Egyptian communication networks and the internet, especially those owned by the Egyptian Telecommunications Company affiliated with the Egyptian government, to Gaza free of charge immediately to lift the siege on the residents in the Gaza Strip.
• The party expressed its support on November 3rd for the “Mada Masr” website in the face of legal challenges and censorship.
• The party’s activities intensified in support of the resistance movement in Palestine, and it participated in a relief convoy with the Constitution Party.
• Additionally, on November 8, the party announced its solidarity with the former presidential candidate Ahmed Al-Tantawi after a decision was issued to urgently refer him and 22 members of his campaign for trial.

 

Egyptian Social Democratic Party:

 

The party, actively involved in the upcoming December elections with a nominated presidential candidate, has focused its efforts on expressing solidarity with the Palestinian resistance. Conferences led by the party’s leader, Farid Zahran, were held in Alexandria, Assiut, Giza, and Fayoum.

 

• Additionally, diplomatic meetings were conducted with ambassadors, including representatives from Peru and Australia.
• Moreover, the party declared its support for the potential former presidential candidate, Ahmed Al-Tantawi.”.

 

Socialist Popular Alliance Party:

 

The party’s activities have revolved around announcing and attempting to provide support to the Palestinian people. Additionally, it criticized the government’s performance, which has led to inflation exceeding 40%, as well as the rise in food and petroleum prices. The party also criticized the implementation of International Monetary Fund recommendations and increased borrowing, which has made Egypt, its economy, and its population hostage to policies biased against the poor.

 

Conservative Party (Al Mohafezeen): 

 

The Conservative Party was the most active during the month of November, issuing statements and declaring positions on:

 

• Women’s rights and the absence of female representation in elections.
• Various activities to announce and express support for the Palestinian resistance, condemning the Israeli aggression in Gaza.
• Violations that occurred before the start of the presidential election campaign, which squandered the guarantees of fairness and basic competition rules, turning the elections into a manipulated referendum with overt intervention from state apparatuses. This transformed the scene in front of the real estate offices into a complete tragedy and farce.
• The relationship between property owners and tenants in residences, and an attempt to establish a fair rental relationship.
• On November 19, the Central Women’s Secretariat and the Rights and Freedoms Secretariat invited attendance at a panel discussion on “Children of the World Between Life and Wars” under the title “Where Are the Children of Palestine from Life?” on November 23 at the party’s main headquarters.

 

The Republican People’s Party:

 

Despite having a modest presence and limited activity, it is a political party that has nominated its leader, Engineer Hazem Omar, as a presidential candidate. He remains relatively unknown to a significant segment of the Egyptian population. The party’s engagement has mainly revolved around organizing a handful of meetings related to the presidential candidacy in Cairo and Giza.

 

Al Wafd Party:

 

The longstanding party, which has seen a decline in its activity and presence, nonetheless nominated the third candidate for the presidency, party leader Abdul-Sanad Yamama. The party’s activities have been limited to organizing promotional meetings for its candidate in Dakahlia, Port Said, and Cairo.

 

The Revolutionary Socialists Movement:

 

Despite being an informal movement, its activity was prominent, especially in expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people. This support was coupled with criticism of the official stance of the Egyptian government, particularly its compliance with the Israeli occupation’s demand to keep the Rafah crossing closed most of the time.

• On October 25, the movement issued a statement expressing full solidarity with those detained for supporting Palestine, urging the security authorities to release them immediately.
• The movement also issued a statement on November 13 expressing its full solidarity with the former presidential candidate Ahmed Al-Tantawi. In its statement, the movement added, “The regime seizes every opportunity to demonstrate its oppression, utilizing any means to affirm that the future is like the past. Any talk of changing its policies in the coming years is nothing but an illusion in the minds of its proponents. Additionally, it exhibits contempt for its own promises, whether seen in conferences and speeches or through agreements with this party or that candidate. The message becomes clear to the people and the opposition alike: anyone deviating from the path will be suppressed.”

 

Section 2: Professional and Labor Unions in Egypt

 

Professional Unions:

• Egyptian Journalists Syndicate:

 

The Journalists Syndicate has initiated extensive activities to support the Palestinian people and condemn the targeting of journalists. This includes issuing statements and interactive activities, such as organizing a humanitarian relief convoy and providing tools for journalists. Additionally, the syndicate has begun documenting the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation.

• Regarding other activities, the syndicate declared its support for the “Mada Masr” website, which is facing legal persecution. It also expressed solidarity with several journalists facing prosecution, including the potential former presidential candidate Ahmed Al-Tantawi, Mohammed Saad Khattab, Tawfik Ghanem, Reuters agency journalists, and journalist Karim Ibrahim.
• On November 12, the union committee for the employees of Al-Wafd newspaper held its exceptional meeting to discuss the means of implementing the minimum wage of 3,500 Egyptian pounds. The meeting was attended by the head of the Journalists Syndicate and the head of the general union for workers in the press and media.
• On November 13, the Journalists Syndicate declared its solidarity with the demands of fellow journalists at both Al-Wafd newspaper and Reuters News Agency regarding improving their financial conditions and reforming the unfair salary structure.
• On November 15, the Journalists Syndicate reached an agreement with the president of Zamalek Club to resolve the issues of journalists who paid subscriptions for previous years and their memberships were either canceled, suspended, or not renewed for any reason during the past years.

• Egyptian Lawyers Syndicate:

 

• During November, the Lawyers Syndicate had minimal activity, primarily focused on following up on the cases of certain lawyers who are detained in connection to political matters. Among them are lawyers like Mohamed Haroun, Ahmed Nazeer El-Helw, Hoda Abdel-Moneim, El Sayed Saied Khalaf, and Ibrahim Metwally.

• Egyptian Medical Syndicate:

 

• On October 30, the Administrative Judiciary Court of the State Council, First Circuit, ruled against accepting 49 lawsuits filed by the families of medical personnel who lost their lives while fulfilling their duties in combating the coronavirus (COVID-19). The court did not recognize them as “martyrs,” which would have entitled their families to pensions and special bonuses.
• In a statement on November 1, the Egyptian Center announced its intention to appeal the decision of the Administrative Judiciary Court before the Supreme Administrative Court. The goal is to seek justice for these families who have endured years of losing their relatives and to secure pensions, serving as compensation, particularly in the current economic circumstances faced by the country.
• Dr. Osama Abdel-Hay, the President of the Doctors Syndicate, reiterated his call on November 15 to the international community, human rights organizations, global health bodies, Arab governments, and nations worldwide. The urgent plea emphasized the necessity of breaking the blockade imposed by the Israeli occupation on hospitals in the Gaza Strip, preventing the delivery of essential supplies such as fuel, water, and medical necessities.
• On November 18, the General Syndicate, through “Egypt’s Giving Committee”, assembled a collection of medical and relief assistance for the people in Gaza. This initiative aimed to provide support to those affected by the aggression and cruel actions carried out by the occupying forces. The distribution of this aid was coordinated with the humanitarian convoy organized by Al-Azhar University.

• The Translators Syndicate:

 

• On November 13, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court, held at the Badr Prison Complex, decided to extend the detention of the translator Marwa Arafa for 45 days pending investigations in Case No. 570 of 2020, State Security prosecution.

• Egyptian Veterinary Syndicate:

 

• On October 29, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court decided to postpone the trial of Dr. Ahmed Amasha, the former head of the Veterinary Doctors Syndicate, and others. This decision is related to Case No. 4743 of 2022 in the Shorouk Terrorism Criminal Court. The trial is now scheduled for November 26, pending the prosecution’s arguments.

• Egyptian Engineers Syndicate:

 

• On November 4, in implementation of the decisions made during the emergency session of the Supreme Council of the Engineers Syndicate held on October 21, which included supporting the Palestinian people in Gaza with in-kind relief convoys provided by the Egyptian engineers, a delegation from the syndicate participated in a campaign to support their brethren in Gaza. The delegation was led by the Vice Chairman of the syndicate, the Secretary-General, and the Assistant Secretary-General. During the campaign, the delegation visited the warehouses of the “Misr El Kheir” association.
• On November 11, noteworthy decisions were made during the meeting of the Engineers Syndicate’s Supreme Council, including the endorsement of financial assistance totaling 20,000 Egyptian pounds for the families of engineers held in the Toukh Train case.
• On November 18, the Engineers Syndicate issued a resolution stating that graduates from unaccredited engineering institutes or those who have not applied to the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation will not be enrolled.

• Egyptian Teachers Syndicate:

• On November 7, the Supreme State Security Prosecution decided to renew the detention of the teacher Ahmed Tolba Abdel-Hameed for 15 days pending investigations in Case No. 2333 of 2023. In the session held on November 21, the prosecution decided to extend his detention for another 15 days.

• Farmers Syndicate:

 

• On November 7, the General Syndicate announced its ongoing acceptance of subscriptions for the healthcare project until the conclusion of December 2023. It highlighted that any member of the Agricultural Professions Syndicate is eligible to participate in the project, along with their family members (spouses, children up to 26 years old, and parents).

• Acting Professions Syndicate:

 

• On November 7, the Acting Professions Syndicate decided to halt the involvement of several young actors, including Ali El-Saba, Lobna Ehab, Basma Nabil, Ahmed Azaar, Menna Salah, and Ahmed Tarek. They were also barred from obtaining work permits due to their failure to adhere to the syndicate’s rules and regulations, having participated in multiple artistic projects without the required authorization.
• On November 24, the union decided to expel members who had not paid their membership fees for up to three years. They were given a two-week grace period to settle their outstanding amounts. If payment was not made within this period, they would be removed from the union, and their names would be publicly announced, preventing them from engaging in professional activities after their expulsion from the union.

• Nursing Syndicate:

 

• On November 21, the head of the Nursing Syndicate inaugurated a new branch in the Suez Governorate, aimed at serving 4,000 nursing members in the governorate for the first time. This initiative received support and sponsorship from the Governor of Suez.

 

Labor Unions:

 

• Egyptian Trade Union Federation:

 

On October 27, the National Wages Council decided to raise the minimum wage for workers in the private sector from 3,000 Egyptian pounds to 3,500 Egyptian pounds.

 

Section Three: Civil Society and Human Rights:

 

First: The most important activities, publications, and initiatives of human rights institutions:

• The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR):

 

• On October 30, Ambassador Moshira Khattab signed a cooperation protocol with the Administrative Prosecution to enhance collaboration between the Administrative Prosecution and the National Council for Human Rights in the field of protecting human rights, promoting their values, and raising awareness about them.
• On October 31, Ambassador Moshira Khattab participated in a meeting of the Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives to document the crimes of the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
• On November 13, the Council, in collaboration with the Arab League, organized a training course titled “Monitoring the 2023 Presidential Elections” over two days as part of the cooperation program with the European Union. The aim was to enhance the capabilities and skills of the Council’s researchers and civil society organizations working in the same field.
• On November 18, the Council announced its visit to the correctional institution for juveniles in El Marg as part of monitoring the conditions of institutions under the Ministry of Social Solidarity and in the implementation of the action plan of the Social Rights Committee.

• Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)

 

On October 31, the initiative issued a statement condemning the retrial and re-imprisonment of the lawyer and former member of the National Council for Human Rights, Hoda Abdel Monem. This came in the context of Case No. 730 of 2020 after she had completed the full five-year sentence in the case known in the media as the Egyptian Coordination for Rights and Freedoms case.

• Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms:

 

• On October 31, the organization’s “Save Freedom of Expression” initiative released a statement expressing condemnation of the decision to block the Mada Masr website and referring those responsible to the Public Prosecution. The statement called for an immediate halt to the targeting of “independent websites.”
• Simultaneously, the organization published a report highlighting the most significant violations faced by journalists, coinciding with the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
• Also on the same date, the “Save Freedom of Expression” initiative within the organization issued a statement urging the release of incarcerated journalists and holding perpetrators of violations against them accountable. This action is seen as an initial step toward rectifying the damage caused by years of oppression, coinciding with the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
• On November 20, the foundation’s lawyers filed an appeal to the Court of Cassation against the verdict issued against Mohamed Adel, sentencing him to 4 years in prison in Case No. 28334 of 2023, a misdemeanor case under appeal in South Mansoura, recorded as No. 2981 of 2023, misdemeanor court of Aja.
• On November 21, the foundation issued a statement urging the Attorney General to allow representatives of the Refugee Affairs Commission to visit Sudanese national “Nabilah Omar” in the hospital for documentation purposes.

• Egyptian Front for Human Rights:

 

• On October 30, the Front issued an analytical report on the case known as the “Joker” case, a state security case numbered 1357 for the year 2019. The report analyzes the most significant violations faced by the accused during both the investigation and the trial stages.
• On November 2, the Front published its first installment of the series monitoring the Egyptian presidential elections (2024-2023). The publication compared these elections with the constitutional and legal frameworks that guarantee the proper conduct of such a significant electoral event.
• On November 6, the Front, in collaboration with the Justice Committee, released a statement regarding their success in obtaining an opinion from the United Nations Arbitrary Detention Working Group concerning 10 cases of arbitrary detention of Egyptian citizens who had been forcibly disappeared for years.

• Egyptian Network for Human Rights 

 

• On November 21, the Network issued a statement demanding that the Egyptian authorities disclose the whereabouts of 5 forcibly disappeared children, coinciding with the International Day for Children.

• Technology and Law Community – Masaar:

 

• On October 30, the organization issued a legal document titled “Cyber Sovereignty and the Future of the Internet and Digital Rights.”
• On November 7, the organization released an explanatory memorandum titled “Explanatory Memorandum: Legislative Effect of the Crime of Intentional Disturbance Using Telecommunication Means.”
• On November 20, the organization issued a legal document titled “IoT and the Intersections of Gender and Technology”

• The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights:

 

• On November 1, the lawyers of the center appealed before the Supreme Administrative Court against the verdict issued by the Administrative Judiciary Court that ruled against accepting the request to consider doctors who died from COVID-19 as “martyrs.”
• On November 12, the center issued a statement condemning the disregard of the International Labor Organization’s statement regarding violations and criminal attacks against workers in the Gaza Strip in the occupied territories. The statement highlighted the arbitrary arrests, assaults, and confiscation of their belongings and wages by the occupying authorities.

• The New Woman Foundation:

 

• On November 14, the foundation organized a workshop titled “Women and Social Protection” as part of the Women, Work, and Economic Rights program. The workshop included an explanation of the concepts of social protection based on the definitions outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Egyptian Constitution.
• On November 19, the foundation conducted a workshop on economic empowerment and the conditions of women in the labor market for representatives of several unions and civil society associations in Alexandria. This was part of the project “Enhancing the Role of Unions in Activating the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 from a Gender Perspective.”

• Center For Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance (CEWLA)

 

• On November 20, the Access to Justice Program at CEWLA held an awareness seminar for 31 women at the headquarters of the CEDAW Development and Human Rights Foundation in the Nahya area. The seminar focused on personal status laws, their challenges, and the organization’s proposed project for a more just Family Law.
• On the same date, the Access to Justice Program at CEWLA organized an awareness seminar for 33 women at the headquarters of the Al-Maasara Marine Association in Al-Maasara area in Helwan, Cairo Governorate. The seminar addressed personal status laws, their challenges, and the organization’s proposed project for a more just Family Law.
• On November 23, the center conducted a training workshop for 25 students and graduates of the Faculty of Law at Alexandria University. The workshop focused on personal status laws with the aim of supporting women’s access to justice through fair and equitable family laws and building a capable front to promote and support proposed personal status laws.

• Collective human rights activities:

 

• On October 29, several human rights organizations issued a joint statement condemning the violations that marred the phase of collecting endorsements for presidential election candidates. The statement highlighted the prevention of citizens from issuing necessary endorsements for their candidates, using violence, thuggery, and other invalid and illogical pretexts. It also denounced the arrest of supporters of opposition candidates to the current President.
• On November 12, a number of Egyptian human rights organizations published a statement to denounce the ongoing and escalating retaliatory practices against the Egyptian politician and former presidential candidate Ahmed Al-Tantawi, as well as members of his electoral campaign. Recently, he and 22 members of his campaign were referred for criminal trial.
• On November 16, several Egyptian human rights organizations issued a joint statement titled “Egyptian Authorities Evade Criticism of Their Human Rights Record Before the UN Committee Against Torture, Convened on November 14-15.”
• On November 19, a number of Egyptian and international human rights organizations jointly released a statement calling for an end to complicity in international crimes by imposing a comprehensive ban on the supply of weapons to Israel from both directions.
• On November 21, a collective statement was released by various Egyptian human rights organizations and political parties under the title “No to Hindering the Progress of the Global Conscience Convoy.” This was in reaction to the challenges faced in obtaining the required security permits for the convoy’s movement towards the Rafah crossing. The statement urged the Egyptian government to streamline the process of issuing the necessary security permits.

 

Second: Violations and harassment:

• Detention Renewal:

• On November 8, the Terrorism Circuit of Cairo Criminal Court extended the detention of the activist and translator Marwa Arafa for a period of 45 days in Case No. 570 of 2020, related to State Security.

• Trials:

 

• On November 5, the Supreme Administrative Court postponed the appeal filed by the Ministry of Higher Education against the verdict acquitting Dr. Manar Al-Tantawi of the charge of impersonating a department head and her entitlement to the professorial rank, which she was deprived of due to security clearance refusal, to the session on December 2, 2023.
• On November 7, the Misdemeanor Court of Al-Matariya decided to adjourn the first session of the former parliamentarian and potential presidential candidate Ahmed Al-Tantawi in the case known as the “Presidential Election Endorsements” to November 28.
• On November 15, the Appellate Disciplinary Council at the Ministry of Higher Education decided to adjourn the appeal against the verdict issued regarding Dr. Manar Al-Tantawi, which includes a deduction of 15 days from her salary. This penalty was imposed due to footage showing her participating in chants outside the Journalists Syndicate, calling for the freedom of her husband, Hisham Jaafar, during his pretrial detention. The final judgment is scheduled for December 20, 2023.

• Judicial Verdicts:

 

• On November 15, a criminal court ruled to lift the asset freeze on activist Hossam Moanis, following the approval of the Public Prosecutor to terminate restraining order No. 35 of 2019, which involved freezing assets and properties.