Egypt detains lawyer, students over Gaza solidarity event

A lawyer and seven others have been detained this week by Egypt's Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) for participating in a Gaza solidarity event on 4 May.

Lawyer Saif Mamdouh Ahmed and seven others were placed in pretrial detention for 15 days, pending investigation into the accusations against them, which include "joining a terrorist organisation" and "spreading false news and statements that could harm public security".

Ahmed was initially arrested over a month ago and detained in an undisclosed location, without being promptly presented to the investigative authorities, according to human rights organisations.

The arrests come amid a crackdown in Egypt against those protesting against Israel's war on Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 2023.

Egyptian security forces have so far arrested 186 people in connection with Gaza-related activism, according to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR).

The individuals are being investigated in 16 separate cases currently handled by the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP).

These arrests stem from what EIPR's report described as peaceful activities, including protesting, raising banners, or taking part in humanitarian aid efforts.

According to the Egyptian Front for Human Rights (EFHR), the eight most recent defendants, who include university students, have been listed under Case No. 3862 of 2025 (Supreme State Security).

Human rights organisations have criticised what they described as the "worrying silence" of Egypt's Bar Association regarding Ahmed's arrest, and its failure to intervene effectively to defend one of its members at the start of his career.

They added that this negligence raised serious questions about the association's stance on protecting its members and defending the dignity and independence of the profession.

Statistics released by EIPR show an escalation in this crackdown in recent months, particularly with the latest case involving Ahmed and others, with many worried that the threat of arrest in Egypt now extends beyond those who publicly express solidarity with Palestine to include their broader social circles.

EIPR stated in a report it released in early June 2025 that 150 individuals remain in pretrial detention in 12 ongoing cases.

The charges in these cases include joining a terrorist organisation, spreading false news, and unlawful assembly. Three of the detainees are under 18 years old.