Egypt: Sissi's regime more repressive than that of Mubarak according to researcher Alain Gresh
The Egyptian activist, Alaa Abdel Fattah, has hardened his hunger strike started seven months ago to warn about the fate of political prisoners in his country.
AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
On the occasion of COP27, which is being held in Sharm el-Sheikh, human rights organizations are calling on international leaders to pressure Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to release opponents politicians, in particular Alaa Abdel Fattah, a figure of the 2011 revolution against Hosni Mubarak, imprisoned since 2019, and currently on hunger strike.
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This left-wing political activist is a symbol for Egyptian power.
“
He is one of those who are called the 'youth of the revolution', who was one of the thinking heads of the movement which led in 2011 to the
overthrow of President Mubarak
.
He symbolizes this revolution to some extent, he has always refused to be silent, regardless of the powers, so he is a bit of a symbol of this revolution of 2011. And I think, moreover, that it is as a symbol that the power is trying to destroy
it, ”said Alain Gresh, director of the online newspaper
Orient XXI
, joined by
Guilhem Delteil
from the international service.
For several months, there has been pressure from the Americans and European powers for the Egyptian power to make gestures, and “
there have been a certain number of political prisoners who have been released
”.
“
Now Alaa Abdel Fattah is a symbol.
So, a way out is offered to him: it is that Alaa Abdel Fattah has obtained British nationality.
He could be deported as a British citizen with a refusal to allow him to return to Egypt.
But is the regime ready for this?
I don't know
”, continues Alain Gresh.
►Also read:
Egypt: political activist Alaa Abdel Fattah hardens his hunger strike with the start of COP27
Egypt's best-known political prisoner, who has been on
hunger strike for seven months
, has now gone on a thirst strike.
This is a hardening of his protest as COP27, the United Nations climate conference, began this Sunday and many world leaders are expected in the Egyptian seaside resort of Sharm el- Sheikh from this Monday.
A repressive regime
Alaa Abdel Fattah, activist of the 2011 revolution against Hosni Mubarak, sentenced to five years in prison for "
spreading false information
", wants to use the organization of COP 27 to alert on his case, but also on that of the set of political prisoners in Egypt.
Because the repression put in place by the regime of Abdel Fattah al-Sissi is stronger than that which existed under Hosni Mubarak, insists Alain Gresh.
“
Human rights organizations estimate the number of political prisoners at 60,000, who in addition live in appalling conditions: overcrowded cells, regular torture, etc.
We are in a much worse situation than under the regime of Hosni Mubarak.
In addition, under the Hosni Mubarak regime, you entered prison, you left it, etc.
There, these are people who have been there sometimes for ten years
, ”assures Alain Gresh.
"
I believe that never in the history of Egypt, we have known such a repressive and authoritarian regime, and it is indeed all the more problematic that it is a regime with which, say, the Westerners, the Europeans, France in particular has privileged relations... relations between France and Egypt have been in good shape since they bought
Rafales from us
.
France should at least use its influence to free these political prisoners and in priority Alaa Abdel Fattah
”.
►
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Egypt
COP27
Abdel Fattah al-Sissi