'Only dozens' attend rally for Egypt's sole presidential opponent
The rally for Moussa Mustafa Moussa - a figure hand-picked by the president and who embarassingly endorsed Sisi before registering as a candidate at the eleventh hour - lasted about one hour.
But despite the low turn out, the rally hosted a stronger showing than Moussa's last event where not a single person showed up.
Sisi is virtually guaranteed to win a second term during Egypt's elections scheduled for 26-28 March after sidelining or arresting at least five major candidates.
Cairo has sentenced hundreds to death, and tens of thousands remain behind bars. Most are members of outlawed Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, but journalists, secularists and other groups have also been targeted.
On Thursday, the UN human rights chief said there was a “pervasive climate of intimidation” in Egypt in the run-up to this month’s presidential elections.
In an annual report submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said “potential candidates have allegedly been pressured to withdraw, some through arrests”.
“Legislation prevents candidates and supporters from organising rallies. Independent media have been silenced, with over 400 media and NGO websites completely blocked,” he continued.
Cairo hit back at the claims, dismissing the comments as “baseless allegations”.
Since 2013, Egyptian authorities have sentenced hundreds to death and arrested tens of thousands of people following the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi.
Sisi has overseen the crackdown and the regime he oversees is highly sensitive to any perceived public or private criticism of the government.
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