The United Nations said that it does not grant a mandate for repression. In response to a question about the number of "political detainees" in Egypt, the international organization called for "people to be allowed to express themselves, and for governments to listen to the people."
During a press conference for the organization’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, a journalist said that the number of "political detainees" in Egypt ranges between 60,000 and 100,000, and asked whether international silence about this situation represented a "mandate" to proceed with the policies of repression.
Dujarric replied, "No (we grant authorization for repression), no matter what country we are talking about, no one should have an absolute mandate to stifle (freedom) public expression or political expression."
"I think, as the Secretary-General (of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres) said very clearly, that no person in the 11th century should be in prison because of what he believes or because of his political views."
He stressed the need for "people to be allowed to express themselves, and for governments to listen to the people."
And on Sunday, Amnesty International called for the release of Egyptian activists who were arrested last year, over a call to protest on 20 September 2019.
The human rights organization said that the 20th of this month marks the anniversary of the largest campaign against protesters in Egypt since (President Abdel Fattah) Al-Sisi came to power (in 2014).
"At least 4,000 people were arrested (last year), including journalists and activists who did not even participate in the protests ... many of them are in prison on unfounded charges related to terrorism," she added.