From November 6-18, Egypt will host the UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, bringing the conversation about climate change to the Global South. Yet, miles away from the conference grounds, activists, environmentalists, and civil society leaders are being detained, tortured, banned from travel, and denied their basic rights.
Those most vulnerable and most affected by our warming planet must be at the forefront of
conversations about climate change during COP27, not languishing behind bars.
There can be no climate justice without human rights.
There can be no climate justice without human rights. We are proud to join the COP Civic Space coalition in calling on Egypt to free political prisoners ahead of COP27.
We encourage those planning to attend COP27 to use their platforms to draw attention to the plight of Egypt’s tens of thousands of political prisoners. Please contact us through this form if you are attending and would like further information.
o Egypt’s Protest Law allows for the use of force against any gathering of 10 or more people without prior approval from the Ministry of Interior.
o Since 2013, scores of Egyptian activists and human rights defenders have been jailed for violating the protest law.
o During COP 27, designated protest areas have been marked for demonstrations. No guidance has been issued as to interpretation of the law during this time, and lawyers are raising serious security concerns.
Egyptian environmentalists are imprisoned for their activism
o A number of environmental activists, engineers, and advocates for those affected by climate change are imprisoned for their activities (see more in the #SayTheirNames section).
o For the last decade, Egypt has severely curtailed the work of independent civil society, all but eliminating the existing independent civil society in Egypt and creating barriers for new organizations or movements to form, a devastating blow to the country’s nascent climate movements.
o While Egypt and UNFCCC approved 35 organizations to attend COP27, these excluded many of the country’s most active independent groups, drawing serious criticism on the process.
Egypt jails those who stand up to its harmful development initiatives
o Since 2015, Egypt has been engaged in nationwide, state-led development projects, including the construction of a new administrative capital.
o These projects have caused the forced displacement of thousands, the destruction of green spaces, and prevented access to public lands. Demonstrations against the projects have been met with force and detention.
65,000
Detained
Tens of thousands of political prisoners remain behaind bars in Egypt.
241
Executed
According to Reprieve, between 2018 and 2021, Egypt executed
241 people, the fifth highest in the world in this period.
2,182
Sentenced to death
2,182 People have been sentenced to death in mass
trials in the country since 2011.
2,700
Disappeared
The Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms has documented over 2,700 enforced disappearances in Egypt in the last five years.
655
Sexually assaulted
The Freedom Initiative and the Egyptian Front for Human Rights documented at least 655 cases of sexual violence in prisons since 2015, including rape, molestation, and electrocution of the genitals.
