Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)

“Despite the state’s relentless intimidation and campaign to destroy them, independent human rights organizations in Egypt will continue to fulfill their moral duty to all Egyptian citizens who have been or will be victimized, regardless of their political, religious, ethnic, or sexual orientation, regardless of the upcoming asset freeze judgement and regardless of the cost,” affirmed Bahey Eldin Hassan, director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies.

Detainment by Israeli forces has long been a peril faced by human rights workers in Palestine. But death threats reaching all the way to Europe may also be creating a new reality for activists beyond Palestine’s borders.

Ten Egyptian rights organisations launch campaign called Voices Behind Bars to defend hundreds of young people currently detained for exercising their right of freedom of opinion and expression.

Just a few hours before World Press Freedom Day, a security force with the Interior Ministry raided the syndicate’s headquarters.

Police have arrested youth from cafes in downtown Cairo, at metro stations, at random police checkpoints and from their homes.

Eleven regional and international civil society groups have penned a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama urging him to press for the release of all detained rights defenders across the Gulf region who are imprisoned solely due to their peaceful and legitimate human rights work.

At a time when the torture and murder of Egyptians have become a mark of patriotism, defenders of the victims of these crimes are being prosecuted.

Head of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information Gamal Eid’s travel ban is the latest in a string of arbitrary travel bans targeting activists and human rights advocates in Egypt.