The Law Society of England and Wales has brought serious concerns to the United Nations regarding the ongoing mistreatment and persecution of lawyers in Egypt. As part of a regular review of the country’s human rights situation, the society has urged the Egyptian government to halt the systemic persecution and to ensure the independence of the judiciary.

During the UN’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, which evaluates each member state’s human rights record every four to five years, Richard Atkinson, the Vice President of the Law Society, voiced grave concerns about the conditions facing lawyers in Egypt, particularly those involved in criminal and human rights cases. “The Egyptian state machinery displays a pattern of contempt against lawyers working in these fields,” Atkinson stated.

The Law Society’s report highlighted specific abuses such as harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and enforced disappearances, especially targeting lawyers representing political prisoners or those involved in politically sensitive cases. Atkinson criticized the use of broad anti-terrorism legislation to undermine lawyers’ ability to perform their duties and condemned the unlawful practice of trying civilians in military courts.

This attention comes ahead of Egypt’s next review in 2025 during the fourth cycle of the UPR, with a deadline for submissions later this year. The issue has drawn international concern, with over 100 NGOs and lawyers’ associations having previously written to the UN Human Rights Council, decrying the arrest and prosecution of human rights campaigners in Egypt as a severe violation.

In response to the previous UPR findings in 2019, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, had acknowledged some positive steps taken by Egypt, such as the establishment of a National Council for Human Rights and measures to regulate the conduct of security forces. However, she also pressed for the development of a comprehensive national human rights action plan and stressed the need for stronger judicial independence and protection of legal practitioners.

The Law Society’s call highlights a critical area of concern within Egypt’s broader human rights framework and underscores the international community’s role in advocating for improvements and adherence to global human rights standards.

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