Middle East and North Africa
27 October marks one year since Egyptian blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah was last arrested for his peaceful activism, and he has remained detained since then. We are all gathering around one hashtag – #FreeAlaa – to call for his release and the release of all those unjustly detained in Egypt.
The delay in the release of both Ms. Salwa Mihriz and Ms. Nahed Sherif is quite atrocious, especially that Ms. Mihriz’s release is halted by the fact that her name is not written correctly in the pardon decision. As for Ms. Mahienour El-Massry, it is feared that her exclusion from the concerned pardon is a result of her being targeted for her well-known and prominent human rights activism.
Turkey has come to the fore due to its conduct to ban world-famous websites, which undoubtedly targets not only websites with LGBTI content but freedom of expression in general. Restrictions on access to websites come in two ways: Blocking the content and bans on obtaining domain names.
A cornerstone of APC’s work is to enable communities and social movements to use ICTs to transform the world into a better place. Women’s movements in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have long recognised the power of ICTs as platforms for advocacy and organising – effectively shifting the power dynamics between information creators, owners and users.
Today, on Human Rights Day, we remember Alaa Abd El Fattah and Bassel Khartabil (aka Bassel Safadi), who are serving arbitrary sentences that will jeopardize their futures as innovative and free thinkers from the Arab region. Break the silence with us today in this global campaign for Alaa, Bassel, and the many others who have been unjustly imprisoned because of their activism.
APC breaks down the major outcomes of the 20th session of the Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review, which focussed on Egypt and Iraq among other countries. APC has followed the UPRs of Egypt and Iraq, particularly for these states’ violations of internet rights such as freedom of expression.
As part of our mission to empower people’s use of ICTs for social justice, APC is working with partners and members to ensure HRDs in the Maghreb-Machrek region have the tools and knowledge to operate securely online. To build a culture of online human rights and digital security, HRDs will also be encouraged to engage with existing human rights mechanisms (such as the UN Universal Period...
APC denounces the arrests of 23 protestors and human rights defenders in Egypt, including the arrest of Yara Sallam, long-time APC partner and human rights advocate. Since the introduction of the protest law in November, there have been a string of actions aimed at silencing dissent in Egypt. APC fully supports the call from Nazra for Feminist Studies to release the human rights defenders and c...
APC denounces the arrests of 23 protestors and human rights defenders in Egypt, including the arrest of Yara Sallam, long-time APC partner and human rights advocate. Since the introduction of the protest law in November, there have been a string of actions aimed at silencing dissent in Egypt. APC fully supports the call from Nazra for Feminist Studies to release the human rights defenders and c...
Yesterday, Egyptian authorities issued warrants for the arrest of top secular activists who organised demonstrations against a law passed earlier this week by the military-backed government that bans public political gatherings of ten or more people. APC denounces these heavy-handed measures and call for the immediate withdrawal of the warrant for arrest of Abdel Fattah and others who have simp...
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