Over 5,000 violations carried out in Egypt in 2025, including deaths in detention: NGO

At least 5,053 violations were recorded against civilians in Egypt in 2025, an NGO said on Monday, based on recent findings, painting a grim picture of the state of human rights and freedoms in the country.

The report, titled 'The Archive of Oppression in 2025 – 366 Days of Tyranny,' was released to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the 2011 Egyptian revolution. It documented various types of violations, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and more.

The Nadeem Centre documented around 1,444 cases of enforced disappearances over varying periods of detention throughout the year, while the number of newly documented disappearances numbered 581.

Those targeted are believed to include journalists, activists, political dissidents, and social media users critical of the government.

The report also recorded 820 cases of harassment, 515 cases of violence, 274 cases of medical negligence, and 188 collective violations in prisons, police stations, and detention centres – showcasing the widespread abuse of power by Egyptian authorities.  

Violations also include at least 78 deaths in detention. This is a stark increase compared to 57 in the previous year, raising serious concerns about detention conditions and healthcare in places where the state is supposedly fully responsible for human life and safety.

These deaths, which mostly occurred in prisons and police stations, highlight "the gap between the reality and Egyptian police propaganda surrounding the new reform and rehabilitation centres, dubbed the 'American model,'" the NGO said.

Concerning torture, the NGO recorded 84 cases, as well as 66 extrajudicial killings. The report said this showcases the high level of violence perpetuated by security officials "without any serious indication of accountability or reform".

'Justification' of killings, abuse

The centre added that the state tends to "justify" such killing by labelling those killed as "drug dealers" or "dangerous individuals" – with some of them being children.

Against the backdrop of the findings, Egypt’s Interior Ministry ruffled feathers after it marked 25 January by celebrating 'Police Day,' without acknowledging its link to the 2011 revolution.

The Egyptian revolution saw hundreds of demonstrators killed and thousands injured during protests against multiple issues, such as police brutality, authoritarianism, low wages, inflation, and unemployment.

The events of 25 January 2011 led to the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak, and the subsequent election of Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi. He was also later overthrown in a coup orchestrated by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who continues to be the President of Egypt 12 years on.