Human rights abuses at Egypt cloud climate summit

Hossam Baghat He cannot leave Egypt. Its assets and bank assets were frozen for six years. Bahgat is also the founder of the independent organization. Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (IEDP) and is an investigative journalist. your NGOs three criminal investigationsall punishable by imprisonment. “I am a human rights defender and I am from Egypt. work for change “We are ready to pay, even if it comes at a price,” Bahgat told this newspaper from the streets of his hometown of Alexandria.

military coup

It all started with a military coup Abdulfeta El Sisi in 2013. “Over the past eight years, Egypt has large-scale human rights crisis, Along with tens of thousands of people arrested on political charges, for exercising their freedom of expression and association,” the Egyptian journalist says. control of government agencies and the multiple barriers and extensive persecution of journalists and independent media.” One of the first actions of the Sisi regime in 2013 was to ratify the agreement. protest law, banned meetings and protests without the prior written permission of the authorities.

In this way, hundreds of activists arrested or jailed in recent years. Thanks to iron fist Despite Sisi running the country, thousands of people languish in prisons simply for expressing their opinions or opposing the general’s policies. “We have one of us largest population of political prisoners in the worldbut there is no exact estimate because the government refuses to provide data,” Bahgat explains. 20,000 political prisoners Other organizations, such as Democracy for the Arab World (DAWN), put the figure as high as 60,000.

‘More journalists behind bars’

“Egypt used to be very lively and diverse media sceneBut it was completely destroyed or nationalized by state institutions during the Sisi era,” complains the Egyptian journalist, “one of the countries with the highest number of imprisoned journalists in the world.” abuses and violations The international community, which institutionalized human rights, decided that the climate summit should be given to the Sisi regime. Accusations beyond Egypt’s borders green wash, Using timid advances in climate issues to hide this dire record.

To avoid criticism, Egyptian authorities private region outside the conference room where climate activists can present protest organization applications. “We see it as a theater and an attempt to present a false image that Egypt allows freedom of expression and freedom of association,” Bahgat says. “Climate activists and international organizations have said that they will not use this space for the following purposes. solidarity“With the Egyptian people, the director of the persecuted NGO reports. Prominent climate activist Greta Thunberg He stated that he would not attend the event because he saw it as a kind of “greenwashing”.

COP-27, “an opportunity”

Although the Egyptians somehow shared this position, good side hosting such a relevant summit on the global stage. “This is an opportunity rare and useful to be the center of attention of the world for two weeks highlight the catastrophic situation human rights and global solidarity,” defends Bahgat. These days, Movements This brings the cries of thousands of reprisals closer to the clean streets of Sharm el-Sheikh.

they are aware risks what does it mean. They know that the foreign activists accompanying them are in no danger in these protests, but they do. “While the government could use this as a greenwashing strategy for human rights registries, that doesn’t mean it has to be. a successful event“, agrees the human rights defender. “Probably there retaliation It is on the minds of all activists to oppose Egyptians raising their voices, but it is still a risk. we have to run“, Bahgat says, convinced. “We can’t let such a great opportunity pass us by.”