Al-Shehab Human Rights Center denounces: targeting the families of opposition figures, considering it a crime of collective punishment and a flagrant violation of international law

🔴 Al-Shehab Human Rights Center denounces: targeting the families of opposition figures, considering it a crime of collective punishment and a flagrant violation of international law

In this context, we follow with deep concern the incident of the detention of the citizen “Ahmed” (the brother of Egyptian politician #Amr_Abd_Al-Hadi), which clearly exemplifies a policy of “collective punishment” and the targeting of the families of political and civilian actors.

📌 Details of the incident:

Forced entry and arbitrary detention: At exactly 2:00 a.m. on 16 August 2026, forces from National Security raided the home of the mother of activist Amr Abd Al-Hadi, but they did not find her. At the same time, his brother “Ahmed” was also raided and arbitrarily taken from among his family members to the National Security premises in Imbaba Police Station.

Presented to the prosecution and remand in custody: Later, on 17 August 2026, the citizen “Ahmed” appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution. He was presented in connection with Case No. 6252 of 2026, State Security Case, on the allegation that he joined a terrorist group. A decision was issued to remand him in custody for 15 days on the basis of a case of a political nature, despite the fact that he has carried out no political opposition activity.

Using relatives as hostages: The security forces’ statements to the detained man’s mother, after she was summoned and kept in detention for 5 hours, were explicit and direct in calling for a message to be conveyed to stop her son’s political activity. This confirms that the arrest is retaliatory in nature and an attempt to pressure the activist by using his relatives as hostages.

⚖️ Legal position and demands:

International instruments—foremost among them the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights—affirm that the personal nature of punishment is a principle in criminal legislation, and that targeting relatives to pressure opposition figures constitutes a grave violation of the right to personal security and liberty, and a crime of collective punishment criminalized by all international norms and agreements.

Al-Shehab Human Rights Center calls on the judicial and executive authorities to do the following:

Immediate and unconditional release of the citizen “Ahmed,” the brother of activist Amr Abd Al-Hadi, and the dropping of all charges brought against him.

Guaranteeing all his legal rights during the period of detention, including his right to communicate with his family and his legal defense team, and ensuring his physical and psychological safety.

Opening an independent investigation and holding accountable those involved in using the detention of activists’ relatives as a means of pressure and deprivation of freedoms.

#AlShehab_Human_Rights_Center

#Egypt