The National Council for Human Rights released its annual report on Sunday, outlining the state's efforts and shortcomings in safeguarding Egyptians' rights from July 2024 to June 2025. It highlighted interventions for prisoners detained over freedom of expression issues, yet faces criticism for its weakened position amid state pressures. Activists argue the report downplays the extent of ongoing violations.
The National Council for Human Rights' annual report details its interventions in cases of detainees such as lawyer Huda Abdel Moneim, translator Ashraf Omar, journalist Tawfiq Ghanem, activist Galal al-Beheiry, and preacher Salah Sultan, who faces severe health problems in prison. Upon receiving complaints about Abdel Moneim's health and lack of medical care, the council obtained permission to visit her facility and review her file, though it omitted that members were barred from a personal meeting.
Hossam Bahgat, founder of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, told Mada Masr this marks a notable shift from prior years, but the council could push harder. He added: "It’s truly strange that the council would intervene regarding a former member, request to meet with her in prison, as stipulated by its own bylaws, and even go to the prison itself, yet do no more than review her medical file, without any criticism whatsoever."
The report notes advances in classifying and referring complaints to ministries, while admitting occasional failures in follow-up. It praises the release of figures like former presidential candidate Ahmed Tantawi and his manager Mohamed Aboul Diyar, without mentioning they completed sentences for their 2023 election bid involvement.
In the economic and social rights section, it lauds increased health and education budget allocations, despite President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's June 2023 admission of the state's inability to meet constitutional duties, stating: "Do I have the money for this stuff? Me as in the state, not me as in Abdel Fattah." The constitution mandates 6% of GDP for education and 3% for health.
The report overlooks violations involving sectarian violence, religious minorities' rights, and blasphemy prosecutions, with EIPR documenting 40 such arrests in 2025 over religious views. Financially, the council's revenues rose from LE62 million in 2023/24 to LE75 million in 2024/25, enabling a larger role.
Bahgat urges focus on curbing pretrial detention and engaging in ongoing trials to reclaim the council's foundational modest effectiveness.
