{"id":4872,"date":"2026-02-11T01:39:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T01:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/egyptianforum.org\/?p=4872"},"modified":"2026-03-04T01:51:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T01:51:35","slug":"launch-of-the-second-annual-report-of-the-egyptian-human-rights-forum-wherever-they-go-transnational-repression-and-the-targeting-of-egyptians-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/egyptianforum.org\/en\/launch-of-the-second-annual-report-of-the-egyptian-human-rights-forum-wherever-they-go-transnational-repression-and-the-targeting-of-egyptians-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWherever They Go: Transnational Repression and the Targeting of Egyptians Abroad\u201d Second Annual Report of the Egyptian Human Rights Forum"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Egyptian Human Rights Forum (EHRF) launched today its second annual report, <\/span>\u201cWherever They Go: Transnational Repression and the Targeting of Egyptians Abroad,\u201d<\/b><\/a> during a press conference held at the European Press Club in Brussels. The event featured the participation of Member of the European Parliament Chlo\u00e9 Ridel from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, EuroMed Rights Vice President Moataz El Fegiery, President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Alexis Deswaef, and EHRF Executive Director Samar Elhussieny.<\/span><\/p>\n

The report<\/a> is the result of more than a year of research and documentation. It is based on in-depth interviews with activists, journalists, and human rights defenders across numerous countries and geographic locations, in addition to qualitative surveys, data analysis, and the development of the first specialized database documenting patterns of transnational repression practiced by the Egyptian authorities against their citizens abroad.<\/span><\/p>\n

The report<\/a> unpacks the concept of \u201cillusory protection in exile,\u201d revealing how exile\u2014supposed to be a space for safety and rebuilding one\u2019s life\u2014has instead become a permanent condition of tension, anticipation, and pursuit. From countries expelling exiles for narrow political calculations, to international airports turning into points of detention and threats of deportation; from targeting families inside Egypt as a means of pressure, to digital and technological surveillance, smear campaigns, and even denying newborn children the right to identity and official documentation. The report also documents cases of threats and harassment in Europe, North America, and the Middle East, portraying a reality in which safe spaces shrink despite the vastness of the map, and every word or movement becomes a carefully calculated risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

The report<\/a> adopts a mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology. The survey included <\/span>34 Egyptian participants abroad<\/b>, of whom <\/span>around two-thirds (approximately 66%)<\/b> reported being denied passports, official documents, or basic consular services, leaving many in precarious legal situations in their countries of residence. <\/span>Approximately 72%<\/b> indicated that family members inside Egypt had been subjected to security summonses, harassment, or travel bans due to their activities abroad. <\/span>Nearly half<\/b> reported facing direct threats or in-absentia prosecutions, while <\/span>around one quarter<\/b> experienced digital harassment, smear campaigns, or attempted forced deportation.<\/span><\/p>\n

In parallel with the survey, the report<\/a> documents <\/span>84 individual cases<\/b> through a cumulative database spanning <\/span>at least 17 countries and geographic locations<\/b>, enabling the identification of recurring patterns including arbitrary denial of consular documents, revocation of nationality, misuse of international security cooperation mechanisms, digital surveillance, and proxy punishment through the targeting of families. Database indicators show that <\/span>approximately 82% of recorded victims are male compared to 18% female<\/b>, and that the overwhelming majority are active in political, human rights, or media work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read full report\u00a0<\/a><\/h5>\n

The data further reveal a notable geographic concentration of cases in <\/span>Turkey as the most frequently recorded country in the database, followed by Egypt, the United Kingdom, and a number of European and Gulf states<\/b>, reflecting patterns linked to political migration routes and hubs of media and human rights activity. Indicators also show that a significant proportion of cases involve denial of consular services or identity documents, followed by in-absentia prosecutions and security threats, then digital harassment and media defamation\u2014highlighting the intersection of legal, administrative, and technological tools within a cross-border repression system. The database also demonstrates that targeting families inside Egypt is a recurring element in a large number of documented cases, rather than isolated incidents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moataz El Fegiery, Vice-President of EuroMed Rights and President of the Egyptian Human Rights Forum, stated <\/b>\u201cThe systematic resort to repressing Egyptians abroad is not only aimed at intimidating activists and deterring them from engaging in political or human rights work in exile; it also appears to constitute a deliberate policy to deprive political and human rights actors in exile of any possibility of a safe and unconditional return to their homeland.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Alexis Deswaef, president of the FIDH – International Federation for Human Rights\u00a0<\/strong> “Egypt\u200b is one of the most active countries in terms of transnational repression\u200b, with arresting relatives, blocking exiled media outlets, targeting individuals with spyware, and refusing consular services and identity documents, including for children. These practices include the use of diplomatic missions to repress peaceful protesters and the harassment of families remaining in Egypt\u200b. When transnational repression occurs, it directly violates fundamental human rights. States have an obligation to guarantee the rights of all persons within their territory and to provide effective remedies\u200b against these violations by Egypt.”<\/p>\n

Samar Elhussieny, Executive Director of the Egyptian Human Rights Forum, commented <\/b>\u201cRepression does not stop at borders. This report and database provide clear evidence of the targeting of Egyptians abroad, and we call for more serious protection and accountability policies. We also stress that children, women, and the families of defenders are not collateral damage, but real victims who deserve protection and redress, as transnational repression threatens an entire generation with the loss of identity.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

This publication represents the <\/span>second comprehensive annual report<\/b> issued by the Egyptian Human Rights Forum on transnational repression. Previous and current editions have become <\/span>reference sources<\/b> in analyzing this phenomenon, having been cited in reports and opinions issued by UN human rights mechanisms, as well as in studies by the European Parliament and draft resolutions and official discussions addressing ways to counter transnational repression and protect human rights defenders in exile.<\/span><\/p>\n

The report<\/a> highlights the profound <\/span>psychological and social impact<\/b> of these practices. Testimonies and data point to widespread chronic anxiety, insomnia, and a constant fear of detention or deportation\u2014even in countries presumed to provide legal protection. With <\/span>around 72% of participants<\/b> reporting pressure or security summonses against their families in Egypt, feelings of guilt and helplessness have emerged among many exiles, alongside growing self-censorship and avoidance of public appearances or participation in events. The exposure of <\/span>nearly one quarter<\/b> of participants to digital harassment has led to declining trust in online communication and shrinking social support networks. The impact extends to children in cases involving denial of documents or delayed birth registration, affecting their right to education, healthcare, and legal stability, and creating a condition of \u201cunsafe exile,\u201d where fear becomes a daily factor reshaping behavior, professional choices, and social relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n

The report<\/a> concludes with a set of practical recommendations addressed to relevant stakeholders:<\/span><\/p>\n

First: To the Egyptian Government<\/b><\/p>\n