In Egypt, Supporting Palestine Becomes a Crime Amid Growing Crackdown
Arrests, enforced disappearances, and terrorism charges target peaceful pro-Gaza solidarity under Sisi’s rule.
Watan-As global waves of solidarity with the Palestinian cause intensify, supporting Palestine in Egypt now teeters on the edge of criminalization. What was once seen as a humanitarian stance or a legitimate political right is increasingly treated as an offense—punishable by imprisonment, with personal freedoms under constant threat.
On June 12, Egyptian security forces raided the home of Dr. Suzan Mohamed Suleiman, a 67-year-old surgeon, after she participated in organizing a solidarity convoy for Gaza. She was taken to an undisclosed location before later being brought before the Supreme State Security Prosecution, charged with joining a terrorist organization and spreading false information—all based on her involvement in a WhatsApp group where the convoy was discussed.
Dr. Suzan is not alone. In Alexandria, six young men were arrested in April after hanging a banner calling for the opening of the Rafah border crossing. Their detention was extended by 45 days in what became known in the media as the “Palestine Banner Case.”
According to rights organizations, at least 186 people have been detained in Egypt for pro-Palestine solidarity since the start of the war on Gaza—including three minors under the age of 18.
Meanwhile, as Egyptian authorities under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi open doors to Israeli officials, they tighten the noose on Egyptian citizens expressing support for Palestine. Under current conditions, joining a group chat or holding a banner is enough to land someone in prison.
