CSW learned that a number of Shi’a citizens were arrested in Egypt in the last week as part of a campaign to crack down on Shi’a activities before their holy day of Ashura on 25 June.
The shrine of Imam Hussein was also closed, reportedly ‘for maintenance.’
Haydar Qandeel, a prominent Shi’a journalist, was arrested in the evening of 22 June and the police refused requests to reveal his whereabouts or the reasons for his arrest.
Mr. Qandeel was previously arrested in 2019 and charged with ‘spreading the Shi’a faith and establishing an illegal group.’ He remained in custody until March 2020, when he appeared before state security prosecution. He was eventually released in August 2020 and was asked to report to the police weekly.
According to a family member, Qandeel disappeared on the same day that several Shi’a citizens were arrested, including Mustafa Al-Mubarak, his sister’s husband, and a New Zealand national of the Shi’a religious persuasion at.
Qandeel’s brother, Youssef Qandeel, identified other individuals who were reportedly detained, including Islam Abdel-Khaleq Abu Al-Majd, Ammar Abdel-Khaleq Abu Al-Majd, Hussein Ammar Abdel-Khaleq Abu Al-Majd, Amin Ahmed, Amr Abdullah, and Fathi Mukhtar.
According to a research paper published by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights ( EIPR) in June 2016 titled ‘Forbidden Diversity in the State Religion: The Case of Religious Freedom for Egyptian Shias,’ Shi’a citizens in Egypt have been subjected to systematic violations affecting seven fundamental rights: the rights to life, physical integrity, freedom of religion or belief, privacy, non-discrimination, fair trial, and freedom of expression.
CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: ‘The series of arrests of Shi’a citizens ahead of a significant holy day not only violate the constitutional provision stating that freedom of belief is absolute, they also violate relevant stipulations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Egypt is a signatory. We call for their immediate and unconditional release, and urge the Egyptian government to fulfil its obligations under international law, and honour the personal commitment of President Sisi to uphold freedom of religion or belief and equal citizenship for all.’