Rule of Law in Egypt – World Countries for Kids

The executive branch applies influence over the courts, which typically guard the interests of the government, military, and security apparatus and have very often overlooked due process and other basic safeguards in cases against the government’s political adversaries and all forms of independent expression. The 2019 constitutional amendments further cemented the president’s supervisory and appointment powers over the judiciary and dented its independence. In July of 2022, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi appointed a military general to be the Supreme Constitutional Court’s first deputy justice, which further placed the nation’s institutions under Sisi’s control.

Since 2013, authorities have increasingly resorted to months-long or even years-long pre-trial detentions on opposition members, activists, and journalists as reprisal for their activities. These due process abuses have effectively normalized the misuse of the justice system for political purposes. Courts hold remote pre-trial detention renewal sessions through video conference, with detainees taking part from prisons under police supervision. This practice increases the danger of abuse for political prisoners, who hesitate to report mistreatment in front of prison officials who control their daily lives.

Even though the constitution limits military trials of civilians, a 2014 presidential decree put all “public and vital facilities” under military jurisdiction, referring thousands of civilian defendants to military courts. That alteration was made permanent in November 2021. Charges brought in military courts are very often vague or fabricated, defendants are deprived of due process, and basic evidentiary standards are regularly disregarded.

Security forces continue to exercise illegitimate force with impunity. Counterterrorism laws offer a vague definition of terrorism and grant law enforcement personnel far-reaching powers and immunity in enforcement.

Prison conditions are extremely poor. Inmates endure physical abuse, unsanitary conditions, overcrowding, and denial of medical care. Under President Sisi’s rule, many have died in custody amid reports of food and water deprivation, torture, and physical punishment for those complaining or demanding better treatment. The prison system is rife with bribery, extortion, and corruption, including the rewarding smuggling of drugs and mobile phones by supervisors with immunity.

Use of the death sentence has increased dramatically since Sisi came to power, despite grave concerns about due process violations and politicized prosecutions. Over the past decade, according to EIPR (the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights), an advocacy group, 4,202 death sentences have been given out by Egyptian courts, of which 448 have been executed. Of those executed, the group said many cases involved “trials largely reliant on torture-tainted ‘confessions.’”