On June 3, 2025, the Egyptian Human Rights Forum (EHRF) co-hosted a timely panel at the European Parliament titled “Transnational Repression by MENA States: A Challenge for the EU”. Organized in collaboration with MEPs Chloé Ridel (S&D) and Jan Christoph Oetjen (Renew Europe), along with the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and the Egyptian Front for Human Rights (EFHR), the session explored how authoritarian regimes across the Middle East and North Africa are exporting repression to target exiled political dissidents, journalists, and human rights defenders.
🎙️ Speakers included:
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MEP Chloé Ridel (S&D)
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MEP Jan Oetjen (Renew Europe)
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Samar Elhussieny, Executive Director, EHRF
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Amna Guellali, Research Director, CIHRS
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Abdulrahman Ayyash, Senior Policy Manager, Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC)
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Zakaria Hannache, Algerian Human Rights Defender
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Claudio Francavilla, Acting EU Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch (HRW)
EHRF Executive Director Samar Elhussieny delivered a powerful intervention on Egypt’s growing arsenal of cross-border repression tactics, including:
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In absentia convictions and terrorism listings
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Arbitrary passport denials and civil documentation blockades
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Harassment of family members of exiled dissidents
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Digital surveillance and spyware use
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Defamation campaigns to silence and discredit activists abroad
Elhussieny opened by honoring Leila Soueif, whose unwavering fight for justice for her son, Alaa Abdel Fattah, remains a beacon of courage and principle in the face of state violence.
The event underscored that transnational repression is not an isolated phenomenon but part of a deliberate, coordinated policy. Panelists called on the EU to adopt concrete measures—such as targeted sanctions, legal protections, and oversight mechanisms—to uphold its human rights commitments and defend those forced into exile.
Stay tuned as EHRF continues to push for accountability and protection for human rights defenders across borders.
🌐 Watch online: https://lnkd.in/ekJwts7M
