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UN PhotoOHCHR / EGYPT ARBITRARY DETENTIONS – ARABIC
STORY: OHCHR / EGYPT ARBITRARY DETENTIONS - ARABIC
TRT: 02:27
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / NATS
DATELINE: 26 AUGUST 2025 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, Palais Wilson
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Thameen Al-Kheetan, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We call on Egyptian authorities to put an end to the practice known as “rotation”, which allows Government critics to be held arbitrarily and for prolonged periods, even after serving their sentences or completing maximum pretrial detention. Human rights defenders, activists, lawyers, journalists, peaceful protesters and political opponents have been targeted by this “rotation” practice. It entails the authorities bringing new charges against individuals when they are about to complete their prison sentences or as they reach the maximum legal period of pretrial detention, thus preventing their release. The latest case concerns poet Galal El-Behairy, who was arbitrarily detained after completing a prison term on 31 July 2021 for writing songs and poetry critical of the Government. Since then, he has faced similar charges in two different cases under the counter-terrorism law and the penal code. The latest charges were brought against him on 19 August 2025, extending his detention for at least 15 more days. Most of those targeted by “rotation” should not have been detained or jailed in the first place, as the charges brought against them are often related to the exercise of their legitimate rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. It has become a tool by which the Egyptian Government represses those perceived to be critical of its policies. The Egyptian Government must immediately stop this practice of “rotation” and release all those who have been subjected to it. All those arbitrarily detained for exercising their fundamental freedoms or defending human rights must be released immediately. It is crucial that Egyptian authorities ensure that the application of counter-terrorism or other criminal laws is never used to punish people for exercising their basic rights.”
4. Wide shot, Palais Wilson
A UN Human Rights Office spokesperson said that the Egyptian Government must immediately stop the “practice of ‘rotation’ and release all those who have been subjected to it.” OHCHR
In a video message, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said, “We call on Egyptian authorities to put an end to the practice known as “rotation”, which allows Government critics to be held arbitrarily and for prolonged periods, even after serving their sentences or completing maximum pretrial detention.
He also said, “Human rights defenders, activists, lawyers, journalists, peaceful protesters and political opponents have been targeted by this “rotation” practice. It entails the authorities bringing new charges against individuals when they are about to complete their prison sentences or as they reach the maximum legal period of pretrial detention, thus preventing their release.”
He added, “The latest case concerns poet Galal El-Behairy, who was arbitrarily detained after completing a prison term on 31 July 2021 for writing songs and poetry critical of the Government. Since then, he has faced similar charges in two different cases under the counter-terrorism law and the penal code. The latest charges were brought against him on 19 August 2025, extending his detention for at least 15 more days.”
He said, “Most of those targeted by “rotation” should not have been detained or jailed in the first place, as the charges brought against them are often related to the exercise of their legitimate rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. It has become a tool by which the Egyptian Government represses those perceived to be critical of its policies.”
He concluded, “The Egyptian Government must immediately stop this practice of “rotation” and release all those who have been subjected to it. All those arbitrarily detained for exercising their fundamental freedoms or defending human rights must be released immediately. It is crucial that Egyptian authorities ensure that the application of counterterrorism or other criminal laws is never used to punish people for exercising their basic rights.”
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