Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)

The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies says recent efforts by the US State Department to label the global boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement as anti-semitic threatens to silence the work of Palestinian human rights defenders and organizations that monitor, document, and criticize Israel’s systematic human rights violations.

Civil society organizations condemn the escalated targeting of human rights workers in the country after authorities arrested several members of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) in retaliation for meeting with senior Western diplomats, and call for the immediate release of EIPR’s director, Gasser Abdel Razek and his colleagues who face punitive treatment in detention.

Jailed solely for expressing critical views on the government’s crackdown on the Hirak movement, detained human rights activist Abdallah Benaoum’s health remains in critical condition, say human rights organisations who call for his immediate and unconditional release.

A joint oral intervention at the UN Human Rights Council expresses concern over Israel’s targeting of Palestinian rights defenders and specifically its intention to revoke the permanent Jerusalem residency of lawyer Salah Hammouri.

The Algerian authorities’ relentless prosecution and harassment of civil society and journalists undermines human rights as the country undertakes its democratic transition process, ahead of a constitutional referendum to be held on November 1st.

The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies condemns the 15-year sentencing of its director, prominent human rights defender Bahey eldin Hassan, and calls for an end to a state security campaign of intimidation and vengeance that has targeted Egyptian rights advocates.

The 44th session of the HRC resulted in a number of welcome resolutions, on peaceful protests and freedom of opinion and expression among them, and country-specific discussions. However, several States escaped collective scrutiny this session.

With more women accused of “inciting immorality” online, rights groups denounce an ongoing security campaign designed to suppress freedom of expression in the country.