The Egyptian Front for Human Rights condemns the continuation of security crackdowns against citizens over their exercise of the right to organize and freely express their opinions. This time, the campaign has affected dozens of young people who joined an online group called “Gen Z,” with counter-terrorism legislation being used against them — in continuation of a pattern of instilling fear among citizens and silencing voices critical of government policies.
During June, the Egyptian Front for Human Rights documented the Supreme State Security Prosecution’s investigation of approximately 51 citizens, including 9 young women, with some as young as 19 years old. The Prosecution ordered their pretrial detention in connection with Cases No. 4487 and 4753 of 2026 (Supreme State Security), after charging them with joining a terrorist organization, misusing a social media platform, and publishing and broadcasting false news and information.
The arrest campaign against these citizens began in the second half of May, when security forces affiliated with the National Security Sector arrested them from various locations before taking them to National Security facilities. According to testimonies from several detainees, they were interrogated inside these facilities about their use of the Discord platform, and specifically about their membership in the group called “GenZ002 Gen Z,” which is reported to have been created by Egyptian political opposition figure Anas Habib, who resides abroad.
All those arrested were also subjected to enforced disappearance inside National Security facilities for periods ranging between 15 and 37 days before being brought before the Supreme State Security Prosecution. A number of them reported being subjected to physical abuse during their detention, including beatings and being suspended while blindfolded. At the conclusion of the investigations, the Prosecution ordered their pretrial detention for 15 days pending investigation.
The Egyptian Front for Human Rights demands the immediate and unconditional release of these detainees, who were held over their exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the dropping of all charges against them. The Front also calls for a prompt, independent investigation into the allegations of torture and enforced disappearance suffered by the detainees, and for holding those responsible accountable.