Civil Society in Egypt … January 2024
Parties, Syndicates and Human Rights

Section One: Egyptian Political Parties

 

Introduction:

The year 2023 concluded, bringing an end to the presidential elections. The onset of the new year witnessed a significant rise in the prices of certain goods and services, exacerbating the economic crisis. Additionally, the Israeli aggression on Gaza persisted. As a result, these issues took center stage in the activities of political parties and forces during the initial period of the year, especially in the month of January.

 

Homeland Future Party (Mostaqbal Watan Party):

The party was actively engaged in celebrating President Sisi’s victory in the presidential elections, given his its crucial support, alongside providing some charitable services.

• On December 31, the party’s Misr El-Gedida branch organized a celebration to mark the beginning of the new year 2024. Gifts were distributed to citizens in the squares of Misr El-Gedida.
• On January 7, the youth of the Homeland Future Party in Mansoura organized a celebration for Easter and distributed gifts to children and attendees inside the church.
• On January 10, the Homeland Future Party in Matrouh organized the “Warm Winter” initiative, providing blankets to those in need, a tradition the party has been carrying out during the winter for several years.
• On January 13, the Health and Population Department of the Party in Mallawi organized a free medical caravan at the medical center.
• On January 20, the party conducted a training session on exports in collaboration with the Foreign Trade Training Center, aiming to maximize export opportunities.

 

The Constitution Party (Al Dostour Party):

The Constitution Party began its new year by organizing its ranks and preparing for the upcoming phase, gearing up for parliamentary elections. The party continued to actively respond to the repercussions of the economic crisis and maintained its support for the resilience of the Palestinian people.

• On January 4, the party issued a statement condemning the increase in prices of various services, including metro and train tickets, electricity, communications, and the internet. The party attributed these decisions to the escalation of the debt crisis and called on the government to make structural changes in its management of the Egyptian economy.
• On October 7, the party conveyed Easter greetings and its members participated in the Mass held in several churches in Cairo and Alexandria.
• On January 9, the party issued a statement in support of South Africa’s case against Israel in the International Court of Justice. Additionally, the party endorsed the global petition supporting South Africa’s stance against Israel.
• On January 14, the party decided to form a committee to prepare for the upcoming elections, outlining strategies for participation in the upcoming dialogue sessions addressing local laws and parliamentary council laws.

 

Al Wafd Party:

After the end of the presidential election race, the party announced the commencement of organizing its ranks and preparing for parliamentary elections, focusing its activities on social aspects.

 

• On January 7, the party leader visited the Pope at the cathedral to convoy Easter greetings.
• On January 8, the party formed a legal committee to hold accountable those it deemed responsible for committing defamation and slander against the party and its leader.
• On January 10, the party’s higher authority decided to increase the salaries of journalists in the party’s newspaper by 800 Egyptian pounds per month, following intervention by the Journalists’ Syndicate.
• On January 22, the party issued a statement condemning the agreement between Ethiopia and the new Somalia, expressing concern that this agreement threatens the unity of Somali territory, with a perceived risk of Ethiopia taking control of part of Somalia’s land.
• On January 23, the party sent congratulations to the Ministry of Interior on the occasion of Police Day, which falls on January 25. This day commemorates the sacrifice of the Egyptian police in resisting the English occupation in the Battle of Ismailia in 1952, at a time when the Minister of Interior was Fouad Serageldin, one of the leaders of the Wafd Party.

 

Bread and Freedom Party (Under Establishment):

The The party remained actively involved in the political movement supporting the Palestinian people and concurrently addressing pressing social issues amidst the deepening economic crisis. Additionally, the party dedicated efforts to organizational matters with the aim of securing official registration and participating in upcoming events.

• On January 2, the party issued a condemnation statement regarding the decision to increase the prices of certain services such as metro and train tickets, communications, internet, and electricity. The statement compared the 30% price hike with the application of the minimum wage, which amounted to 17%. The party demanded an immediate halt to price increases, an increase in the minimum wage, expansion of ration cards, and discontinuation of dealings with the International Monetary Fund.
• On January 11, the party released a statement opposing the government’s inclination to mortgage some sources of hard currency against debts, such as the Suez Canal and a portion of tourism income.
• On January 11, the party issued a supportive statement for South Africa in its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
• On January 12, the party organized a celebration as part of the Women Support Campaign in Gaza, aiming to collect in-kind donations for women in Gaza. The event featured the participation of the artistic workshop and the poet Ahmed Doma.
• On January 16, the party joined the People’s Committee for Solidarity with the Palestinian People in visiting the regional headquarters of the World Health Organization to discuss possible cooperation in delivering aid to Gaza residents.
• On January 18, the party issued a statement condemning the aggression on Yemen by American and British forces under the pretext of protecting navigation in the Red Sea. The statement affirmed that such strikes ignore the underlying causes.
• On January 23, the party announced its participation in the “Not a Luxury” campaign, receiving numerous pleas from Palestinian refugees in the Rafah area urgently requesting clothing for newborns. The party expressed its readiness to provide part of the necessities within its capabilities and called on Egyptian authorities to facilitate the delivery of the refugees’ needs.

Egyptian Social Democratic Party:

After the end of the presidential elections, the party’s activity declined relatively. It focused on organizational restructuring and monitoring the activity of the party’s parliamentary body.

• On October 4, the party issued a statement regarding the decision to increase metro, train, electricity, and communication ticket prices. The statement described the decision as adding insult to injury on the path of financial reform, stating that the increase would lead to inflation. The statement condemned the government’s economic decisions and called for the implementation of alternative economic policies.
• On January 7, a party delegation, accompanied by the party leader, visited the Christ’s Nativity Cathedral in the administrative capital to extend Easter greetings.
• On January 10, Farid Zahran, the party’s president, sent letters to world ambassadors and signatory countries to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, urging them to join the South Africa case against Israel before the International Court of Justice.
• On January 11, the party participated in the “Not a Luxury” campaign to raise awareness about women in Gaza, emphasizing the importance of addressing the specific needs of women in times of war. The party joined the campaign alongside several other parties and women’s organizations.
• On January 18, the party received Mr. Håkan Emsgård, the ambassador of Sweden, for consultations on various key issues. The meeting discussed the repercussions of the war on Gaza and the necessity of ending the conflict. It also touched upon the party’s experience in the presidential elections.

 

Socialist Popular Alliance Party:

The party continued its activities in support of the Palestinian cause, alongside its focus on economic issues, particularly the current crisis, currency devaluation, and the worsening societal problems

 

• On December 30, 2023, the party issued a statement condemning the ongoing civil war in Sudan, which has displaced 7 million Sudanese from their regions, five years after the Sudanese revolution. The party declared its support for all efforts to stop the civil war.
• On January 11, the party announced a campaign, including an invitation and signature collection, urging Egypt to join South Africa’s case against Israel before the International Court of Justice
• On January 16, the party organized a seminar on the Palestinian issue, focusing on recent developments in Israeli aggression on Gaza. The seminar featured Dr. Ali Al-Antibi, an international law expert, who discussed the South African case that accuses Israel of committing genocide.
• On December 21, the party released the eighth edition of the “Know Your Enemy” series, addressing Israel’s policy of apartheid against the Palestinian people and its impact on the Palestinian cause..

 

Conservative Party (Al Mohafezeen): 

The party continued its activities, focusing on critiquing government policies, particularly in the economic sector, while maintaining its commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause.

 

• On January 3, the party issued a statement condemning the Prime Minister’s remarks on the housing issue when he claimed success in providing a million housing units for low-income individuals. The statement criticized the government’s economic outlook, asserting that current housing policies highlight failures in urban planning.
• On January 4, the party released a statement calling for the dismissal of the current government. The statement enumerated the problems caused by the current government, which has been in power for seven years. It particularly highlighted the government’s failure to address the debt crisis, increase inflation rates, and its failing in bringing investments. The statement called for the formation of an economically competent government to tackle the current crisis affecting the people.
• On January 6, the party issued a statement condemning the government’s policies regarding the sale of ports, companies, and lands. The statement affirmed the party’s belief in a free-market economy but emphasized that sales should be conducted transparently, with fair evaluations and appropriate timing.
• On January 9, the party organized a tour for its leaders in the Upper Egypt provinces to support the issues of the region. The tour included several seminars and public meetings to discuss the concerns of citizens in the Upper Egypt provinces and express solidarity with them.
• On January 11, the party issued a statement in support of South Africa’s case against Israel, currently before the International Court of Justice.

 

The Republican People’s Party:

Following the end of the presidential election battle, the party began to reorganize its ranks. It focused its activities on enhancing the role of its parliamentary body and resumed its emphasis on charitable work.

 

• On January 6, a delegation from the party, led by its president Hazem Omar, visited the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in the administrative capital to extend Christmas greetings.
• On January 13, the party issued a statement condemning the remarks of the Israeli representative at the International Court of Justice, who claimed that Egypt was solely responsible for the Rafah crossing. The statement affirmed that this lie is a continuation of Israel’s ongoing falsehoods.
• On January 17, the party’s parliamentary body urged the Minister of Supply to secure food security for the population and to transition from in-kind to cash-based support.
• On January 22, the party’s Sohag secretariat distributed blankets to the neediest families in the governorate.

 

The Revolutionary Socialists Movement:

The movement continued to dedicate its media tools, especially on social media platforms, to support the Palestinian cause, while also addressing social issues and the impact of the economic crisis on the poor.

• On December 31, the movement participated in a demonstration organized by political forces in front of the Journalists Syndicate, condemning the Israeli aggression on Gaza and expressing support for the Palestinian resistance.
• On January 8, the movement launched a signature campaign urging Egypt to join South Africa’s case against Israel before the International Court of Justice.
• On January 12, the movement issued a statement condemning the American/British airstrikes on Yemen, noting that this aggression is part of America’s efforts to protect Israel, as a guardian of capitalist interests.
• On January 15, the movement released a statement marking 100 days since the Israeli aggression on Gaza. The statement commended the Palestinian resistance and the people’s resilience in the face of daily massacres. It highlighted the contradiction between humanity-supporting populations and governments that back the aggression.
• On January 15, the movement also participated in a protest on the steps of the Journalists Syndicate, marking 100 days since the Israeli aggression on Gaza. The protest drew a large crowd that voiced support for the Palestinian people and criticized the Egyptian position and the ineffective Arab response in providing necessary humanitarian support to the besieged population in Gaza.

 

Section 2: Professional and Labor Unions in Egypt

 

Professional Unions:

• Egyptian Journalists Syndicate:
• On December 30, the Freedoms Committee at the Journalists Syndicate called for participation in a blogging campaign during the final hours of the year to demand the cessation of the Zionist aggression against the Palestinian people, under the slogan “Stop the genocide against the Palestinian people… No to the Zionist aggression on Gaza.”
• On January 1, the Journalists Syndicate invited for a press meeting with Dr. Atef Abu Saif, the Palestinian writer and novelist, and the Minister of Culture, after his return from Gaza, marking 83 days since the aggression.
• On January 7, the Journalists Syndicate condemned the targeting of journalists Mustafa Thuraya and Hamza Al-Dahdouh by the Zionist occupation. The syndicate also denounced the prevention of international and Arab journalists from entering Gaza. It called on Arab countries to join South Africa’s initiative in holding the state of occupation accountable.
• The Council of the Journalists Syndicate, headed by the Syndicate’s president, agreed in its meeting on the past Wednesday, January 3, to endorse the recommendation of the Trustees Board of the Egyptian Press Awards to nominate the Palestinian journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh for the “Press Freedom” award in 2024 as a symbol of the resilience of Palestinian journalists.
• On January 11, the Journalists Syndicate set Monday, January 15, as a protest day under the title “100 days of genocide… Stop the aggression… Prosecute the war criminals.”
• On January 14, the Journalists Syndicate decided to open the submission for the Egyptian Press Awards competition to select the best journalistic works for the years 2022/2023. The winners will be honored at a ceremony at the syndicate from Tuesday, January 16, until Wednesday, January 31, 2024.
• On January 16, the Board of Trustees of the Egyptian Press Awards decided to reintroduce the subcategories of “Women’s Journalism” and “Environmental Journalism” within the special awards after the success of the collaboration between the Board of Trustees and the Syndicate’s president in securing support for these two awards, honoring the leading names in the field of journalism.
• On January 17, the Training and Research Center at the Journalists Syndicate announced the organization of a training course on the use of Google tools in journalism for beginners, technologically.
• The Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court decided to renew the detention of the journalist Tawfik Ghanem for 45 days in connection with case number 238 for the year 2021, related to State Security.
• On January 20, the Freedoms Committee at the Journalists Syndicate announced its solidarity with the demands of fellow journalists in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate regarding complaints they submitted to the syndicate against the governor of Kafr El-Sheikh. The complaints include preventing journalists from performing their journalistic work by denying them access to the governorate’s general office and withholding information about journalists in newspapers and online platforms.
• The President of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation received the Syndicate’s president, council members, and discussed mutual cooperation between the two sides. They also discussed the rules for granting training and technology allowances to journalists who are members of the syndicate and have not received such allowances.
• On January 24, the General Syndicate Council announced the organization of the sixth general conference in next May. A committee was formed to prepare for the conference during which will discuss the future of the journalism industry and its freedom. The discussion will cover technological advancements and professional, economic, and legislative challenges. The conference is scheduled to coincide with the World Press Freedom Day on May 3.

• The Egyptian Lawyers Syndicate:
• • On January 3, the Attorney General held a meeting with the head of the Bar Association. During this meeting, the Attorney General launched the first phase of “Criminal Prosecution Services.” These services are provided by the Public Prosecution through its electronic portal. The pilot phase began in the prosecutions of the Ismailia Governorate, with plans to gradually roll out the service to other governorates.
  • Additionally, the Public Prosecution collaborated with the Bar Association and its Ismailia branch to implement the first phase of the Criminal Prosecution Services. This was done through the electronic portal at the Ismailia Primary Court as a pilot phase.
  • Furthermore, the head of the Bar Association decided to distribute an exceptional bonus of five hundred Egyptian pounds for Christmas to all eligible pension recipients.
  • On January 7, the head of the Bar Association participated in the Christmas Mass at the Cathedral of Christ’s Nativity in the New Administrative Capital.
  • The head of the Bar Association also decided to apply a 5% periodic increase to the pensions of lawyers for all eligible individuals, starting from January 1, 2024. This marks the second such increase.
  • On January 9, in the presence of the Governor of Sohag and the Mayor of New Sohag City, the head of the Bar Association laid the foundation stone for the Sohag Lawyers Club in the New Sohag city.
  • The Bar Association head met with the Minister of Housing at the ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. The meeting was to discuss land allocation issues for the Bar Association in new cities such as New Assiut, October Gardens, Damietta, Borg El Arab, and the Justice City in the New Administrative Capital.
  • Finally, on January 18, the Council of the Bar Association, led by its head, held a meeting. The purpose was to discuss the procedures for the upcoming general elections of the Bar Association, including elections for the head and council members. The council also began receiving nominations for these positions.
  • The Egyptian Bar Association, led by its president, has entered into a cooperation protocol with the Iraqi Bar Association, headed by Professor Ahlam Al-Lami, the Bar Association’s president in Iraq. The event was attended by the Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab Lawyers Union. The protocol aims to collaborate on the preparation, qualification, training, and continuous development of lawyers. This includes the exchange of experiences, the granting of incentive awards, and the exchange of legal, legislative, jurisprudential, and research experiences.
  • Furthermore, the supervisory committee for the 2024 Bar Association elections has announced the required documents for candidates seeking positions such as General Head and Council Membership.

• On January 23, the Head of the Bar Association witnessed the pilot launch of the legal and judicial portal for the Bar Association. This initiative aligns with the protocol signed between the General Bar Association and the Egypt Law Portal, represented by Mr. Ahmed Qenawi, a lawyer at the Court of Cassation. The portal has now become the legal and judicial gateway for the Bar Association, offering its services to lawyers free of charge.

• The Egyptian Medical Syndicate:
• On December 26, anger prevailed among doctors due to the bill on establishing private medical facilities, recently prepared by the Ministry of Health and Population. The General Medical Syndicate considered it a threat to the continuity of providing medical services to the Egyptian citizens.
• On January 4, the board of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate met with the Minister of Health at the Ministry of Health headquarters in the administrative capital. The aim was to develop a practical bill that contributes to removing obstacles in licensing private medical facilities and the medical liability law.

• The Egyptian Pharmacists Syndicate:
• On December 26, the head of the Cairo Pharmacists Syndicate commented on the incident of a young man’s death in the Ain Shams area, resulting from a medical error after receiving an antibiotic injection that led to the deterioration of his health until his demise. Security forces arrested the assistant pharmacist who administered the injection to the deceased.
• On January 8, the General Pharmacists Syndicate announced that Zamalek Club had agreed, in a letter, to the syndicate’s request to present a special offer for pharmacists interested in joining the club membership.
• On January 21, the Administrative Judiciary Court decided to adjourn the lawsuit filed by the Alexandria Pharmacists Syndicate, registered under number 43046 for judiciary year no. 77, to apply the fixed price to all medications according to the law. The judgment is scheduled for the session on January 28.

• The Egyptian Engineers Syndicate:
• On January 9, the head of the Engineers Syndicate and the syndicate bureau held a meeting with the counselor of the Housing minister to discuss the executive regulations of the new reconciliation law concerning building code violations.
• On January 10, the president of the Sinai branch of the Engineers Syndicate received a delegation from the accompanying Engineers Syndicate convoy providing relief to the people of Gaza. The convoy, consisting of five trucks carrying food, clothes, blankets, and medical supplies, traveled from Cairo to Rafah.
• On January 25, the Engineers Syndicate announced details of a meeting with a delegation from “Mitsubishi Egypt for Elevators and Escalators,” emphasizing that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss collaboration methods and establish protocols for training engineers in the field of electric elevators.

• The Media Syndicate:

On January 16, the head of the journalists’ syndicate issued a decision to suspend Ahmed Abdel-Aziz, the host of the program “The Artistic Community” on “Al-Hadath Al-Youm” channel, until the completion of the investigation with him. This decision was based on the complaints filed against him, including the recent complaint submitted by the head of the musical professions syndicate and its board of directors.

• The Musical Professions Syndicate
• On January 4, the wife of musician Helmi Bakr filed a complaint with the Egyptian Public Prosecutor against the head of the Musicians’ Syndicate, artist Mustafa Kamel, on charges of defamation, slander, abuse, and libel.
• On January 13, the Council of the Musicians’ Syndicate decided to task its legal affairs department with notifying the Public Prosecutor about an embezzlement incident involving an accounts employee. This action was based on a report by the inventory committee, which was formed in accordance with the decision of the head of the musicians’ union to review the documents, treasury, and financials of the Alexandria branch.
• On January 22, the General Council of the Syndicate convened an emergency meeting to reject the resignation of the general head from his duties, assigning the union’s deputy head to manage the syndicate’s affairs. They urged him to reconsider his decision and to continue the progress he had started.

• The Teachers Syndicate
• On January 8, the Minister of Education and Technical Education held a preparatory meeting with the Teachers’ Syndicate, the President of the Arab Teachers’ Union, and a representative from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The purpose of the meeting was to review all the procedures related to the launch of the Teacher Standards document in collaboration with the General Union of Educational Professions and the USAID.

• The General Syndicate of Sports Professions
• On January 10, the Supreme Constitutional Court postponed a legal case. This case questions whether Clause “7” of Sub-Clause “h” in Article 48 of Law No. 63 of 2010 is constitutional. This law, which amended Law No. 3 of 1987, deals with the setup and management of the Sports Professions Syndicate. The specific issue in question is about the law requiring a 5% fee from contracts with local players, coaches, and administrators, and a 10% fee for contracts with foreigners. The court will make its decision on this matter on March 9.

• The Visual Artists Syndicate:
• On December 29, the international exhibition “Art for Sustainability” opened at the fine Artists Syndicate, with the presence of the Minister of Culture at the Egyptian Opera House.
• On January 18, Egyptian visual artist Saber Taha won the grand prize for the portrait he submitted to the International Portrait Festival in Romania. The festival’s social media page published a statement announcing the victory of 33 artists from around the world in the major awards of the festival.

• The Tourist Guides Syndicate
• On January 22, the Senate’s Committee on Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities discussed the legislative impact of Law No. 121 of 1983 regarding tourist guides and their syndicate. This law overlooked modern and contemporary tools for the profession of tourist guidance.

• Physiotherapy Syndicate
• On January 2, the General Syndicate stated that the Supreme Administrative Court had ruled to reject appeal No. 40949 for the year 68. This appeal had sought to impose judicial oversight on the syndicate, dissolve the board of the General Syndicate for Physical Therapy, and place the syndicate’s funds under supervision.

 

Labor Unions:

• The General Syndicate of Workers in Tourism and Hotels”
• On December 28, the 29th Labor Circuit of the North Cairo Primary Court ruled on case No. 1034 of 2023 filed by Faten Abdullah El-Senawi against the legal representative of the General Union for Workers in Tourism and Hotels. The court ordered the repeal of the decision to suspend the plaintiff from trade union activities in her capacity as the Vice President of the General Union for Tourism and Hotels and a member of the union’s board of directors. The defendant was also obliged to pay a compensation of 10,000 Egyptian pounds for the material and moral damages suffered by her.

• The General Syndicate of Workers in Public Utilities

On January 8, for the fourth time, the workers of “Care Service” in the peacekeeping camp went on strike for the sixth day in a row after their salaries were reduced, despite promises of an increase during the recent strike on November 26.

• General Union of Postal Workers
• On January 2, the Central Agency for Organization and Administration announced a centralized competition to fill 900 positions at the National Postal Authority. Those interested in applying for the competition can do so on the government job portal affiliated with the agency from January 18 to January 31.
• On January 5, hundreds of employees of the Postal Distribution Company, one of the companies of the Postal Authority, appealed to the Prime Minister and the head of the National Postal Authority. They requested inclusion in the new appointments of the Postal Authority, explaining that they are 2570 employees who have been working for the company for years in the hope of securing permanent positions, despite the low financial compensation.

 

Section Three: Human Rights Movement

 

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

• The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR):

On January 15, the council held a workshop with university students on “Introduction to Human Rights: Origin, Application, Challenges” in the Gharbia Governorate in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports. This falls within the council’s role in promoting human rights awareness, spreading a culture of human rights, and raising awareness of its values and principles.

• The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
• • On December 28, the Initiative filed an appeal before the Administrative Judiciary Court challenging the decision of the Minister of Education to exclude teachers who successfully passed the qualifying tests for appointment as part of the “30,000 Teachers” competition announced by the Central Agency for Organization and Administration in July 2022.
  • On January 2, 2024, the Initiative published an infograph on its Facebook page detailing the death sentences issued by the Egyptian judiciary during December 2023.
  • On January 11, the Initiative issued a statement condemning the referral of Kyrillos Refaat Nashed, an assistant professor at the Faculty of Engineering at Menoufia University, to trial on charges of contempt of the Christian religion. This was based on a complaint filed by Bishop Benjamin, the bishop of Menoufia, against the university faculty member.
  • On January 15, the Initiative released a statement welcoming the proposed amendments to some provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law, which, for the first time, allow appeals against judgments in criminal cases.

• On January 21, the foundation published a research paper commenting on the new labor law draft after it was reopened for discussion. The government has been working on amending it for about 7 years.

• • The Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms:
  • On December 29, 2023, the “Stop the Death Penalty” initiative issued a statement condemning the endorsement of the death sentence against the citizen “Hassan Sayed Ahmed” and called on the President to halt his execution.
  • On January 3, 2024, the organization submitted a request to the Attorney General of the Supreme State Security Prosecution to transfer Dr. Hani Suleiman to a hospital for treatment, including the removal of cataracts from his eye and a comprehensive medical examination at his own expense. Additionally, the request called for his release.
  • On January 4, the organization released its report monitoring violations against the press, media professionals, and journalists in the private media sector during December 2023.
  • On January 18, the “Save Freedom of Expression” initiative of the organization issued a statement condemning the sentence imposed on engineer Yahya Hussein Abdel Hadi, who was given a suspended prison term for publishing several articles on social media. The statement called for dropping all charges against him and stopping the harassment of politicians, opposition figures, and opinion holders..

• The Egyptian Network for Human Rights 

• • On January 15, the organization published a legal report titled “Blind Justice… The Trial of Dr. Mahmoud Shaaban as a Model”, following the Court of Cassation’s decision to reduce the sentence of the preacher Mahmoud Shaaban to 5 years in prison instead of the original harsher sentence of 15 years.
  • On January 22, the organization issued a statement urging the Attorney General and members of the Public Prosecution to conduct surprise inspections and address the miserable conditions of detainees, particularly in the disciplinary cells, following their observation of the spread of scabies and skin diseases in New Valley Prison.
  • On January 24, the organization released a statement demanding that the Egyptian authorities reveal the fate and location of Dr. Mostafa Al-Nagar. The statement held the Egyptian authorities fully responsible for his continued disappearance for the sixth year, coinciding with the thirteenth anniversary of the January Revolution.

• Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression:

On December 28, 2023, the association released a research paper titled “Prohibited… On the Security Targeting of Creative Content Creators on Social Media Platforms.”

• Technology and Law Community – Masaar:

On January 22, the organization released a research paper titled “The Intersection of Cybersecurity and Digital Rights.” The paper reviews the general aspects of cybersecurity in Egypt, addressing the cyber threats and risks the country faces. It also explores the legislative and institutional frameworks for dealing with these threats and risks.

• The Egyptian Observatory for Press and Media:
• On January 2, the organization issued its report on the developments in the situations of detained journalists during the year 2023. The report aims to provide a detailed presentation and documentation of the cases of journalists who were arrested and those who remain in detention during the past year.
• On January 23, the organization published its annual report for the year 2023 on the state of journalism and media in Egypt. The report covers the monitoring of violations that occurred during the year from January 1 to December 31, 2023, against individuals working in the field of journalism and media in Egypt.

• The New Woman Foundation:

• • On January 3, the organization announced its strategic plan for the years 2024-2026. The plan aims to review the vision of the organization, reaffirm its goals, evaluate its projects and programs, and create a space for communication among the founding members and employees to exchange opinions and experiences.

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

• • On December 30, the Health and Reproductive Rights Program at the foundation organized a dialogue session in the Western Oases titled: “Consanguineous Marriage and Its Relationship to Sickle Cell Anemia in the Western Oases.”
  • On January 9, 2024, the foundation conducted a free medical caravan for the residents of the Bulaq Al Dakrour area near Bilal ibn Rabah Mosque, providing a range of medical services to the local community.
  • On January 16, the foundation held an awareness seminar for 20 women at the October Hills Social Club about the Personal Status Law project prepared by the foundation itself.
  • On January 17, the foundation conducted a three-day digital safety workshop as part of the Digital Safety project for the foundation’s team, focusing on “Digital and Technical Safety Mechanisms.”
• Center for Trade Unions and Workers Services (CTUWS)
• On January 3, the center launched a legal awareness campaign on social media platforms about labor rights titled “Know Your Rights.”
• On January 5 and 6, the center’s Leadership Training Program organized a training course on “Social Affairs and Economics” for union leaders.
• On January 18, the center released a documentary film and report on the activities of the constituent assembly of “Solidarity of Trade Unions Federation”, which took place on December 9, 2023.
• On January 21, the center published its annual report on the state of trade union and labor freedoms titled “Descending to the Bottom: The State of Trade Union Freedoms in 2023.”
• On January 23, the center held a seminar titled “The Impact of the Economic Crisis on Workers’ Living Conditions,” featuring Dr. Mohamed Hassan Khalil, Deputy Head of the Egyptian Socialist Party.

• • On January 26, the center organized a panel discussion in Al-Mahalla Al-Kubra in collaboration with the Trade Union Committee for Workers in Construction in Gharbia, addressing “Challenges of Social Insurance for Irregular Workers.”
• Collective human rights activities:
• On January 22, several local and international organizations issued a joint statement urging the Egyptian authorities to release Badr Mohamed, who was sentenced to five years in prison following his retrial in one of the terrorism-related circuits of the Cairo Criminal Court. He was denied the right to adequate defense, and his lawyers were not allowed to cross-examine prosecution witnesses or summon defense witnesses.
• On the same date, the New Woman Foundation, along with the Egyptian Women’s Issues Foundation and the Egyptian Initiative, participated in submitting a report to the committee responsible for eliminating discrimination against women, overseeing the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This was part of the submission of non-governmental organizations’ reports on urgent issues in the concluding observations on Egypt’s combined eighth to tenth periodic reports, which were discussed in 2021.

 

Violations and harassment:

• Detention Renewal:
• On January 10, the Second Terrorism Circuit at the Cairo Criminal Court, held at the Badr prison, extended the detention of activist Sherif El-Roubi for 45 days in Case No. 1634 of 2022 (State Security).
• On January 17, the First Terrorism Circuit at the Cairo Criminal Court, held at the Badr prison, renewed the detention of human rights lawyer El Sayyed Khalaf for 45 days in Case No. 238 of 2021 (State Security).
• On January 22, the Third Terrorism Circuit at the Cairo Criminal Court, held at the Badr prison, extended the detention of activist Nermine Hussein for 45 days in Case No. 65 of 2021 (State Security).

• Trials:
• On January 9, the Misdemeanor Court of El-Matariya postponed the trial of former parliamentarian Ahmed Tantawi and several members of his presidential campaign in the case known in the media as the “Presidential Endorsements ” to February 6, 2024.

• Judicial Decisions:
• On January 18, the Nasr City Second Misdemeanor Court sentenced engineer Yahya Hussein Abdel-Hadi to one year in prison and ordered the suspension of the sentence for 3 years on charges of spreading false news and information.

• Legal Victories:
• On December 28, 2023, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights obtained a judgment from the North Cairo Primary Court against the legal representative of the General Union of Workers in Tourism and Hotels. The court ruled to cancel the decision to suspend the vice president of the Tourism and Hotels Union from trade union activities and ordered the legal representative to pay financial compensation for the damages incurred.