{"id":40260,"date":"2026-03-14T13:06:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T11:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/afteegypt.org\/?p=40260"},"modified":"2026-03-14T13:06:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T11:06:00","slug":"aftes-newsletter-february-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/afteegypt.org\/en\/advocacy-en\/monthly-newsletter-en\/2026\/03\/14\/40260-afteegypt.html","title":{"rendered":"AFTE\u2019s Newsletter: February 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) shares with you the publications it issued over the past month in addition to the legal updates of lawsuits in which AFTE provides legal support to prisoners of conscience or to academics who were subjected to abuse and security prosecutions for expressing their opinions.<\/span><\/p>\n

We always welcome any inquiries or clarifications from everyone through our social media platforms or via the following email: <\/span>info@afteegypt.org<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Publications:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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The research paper entitled \u201cFrom Violating Family Values to Terrorism Charges: How Egyptian Authorities Constrain the Digital Space (TikTok as a Case Study)\u201d examines the escalation of security and judicial prosecutions against social media content creators in Egypt, particularly TikTok users, since 2020. The paper explains how these prosecutions rely on a combination of vague legal provisions, such as articles related to \u201cfamily values\u201d\u00a0 in the Cybercrime Law, in addition to the usual accusation of violating \u201cpublic decency\u201d. The paper addresses security practices including arresting citizens and violating their privacy right, in preparation for pretrial detention, as a punishment for expressing critical opinions.<\/span> Read More<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

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The research paper \u201cImplementation Gap: Freedom of Expression Between International Recommendations and Public Policies in Egypt\u201d examines the clear differences between international recommendations on freedom of expression and the right to access information, received by Egypt under the United Nations Universal Periodic Review, and the country\u2019s national policies, legislation, and enforcement practices. The paper notes that while the Egyptian government accepted a significant number of these recommendations, this acceptance has not translated into tangible legislative reforms or effective public policies.<\/span><\/p>\n

The paper also analyzes the position of freedom of expression and access to information within the National Human Rights Strategy (2021\u20132026), highlighting that the treatment of these rights is mostly framed in general terms focused on awareness-raising and education, without clear commitments to review restrictive laws or establish measurable implementation indicators.<\/span><\/p>\n

The paper concludes by proposing several pathways to translate Universal Periodic Review recommendations into actionable policies. These include reforming the legal framework governing freedom of expression, digital and media rights; adopting public policies that promote media pluralism and the free flow of information; and ensuring respect for the rule of law by ending pretrial detention and criminal prosecutions in cases of peaceful expression. <\/span>Read More<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

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This research paper analyzes how Egyptian authorities handle rumors and false news in the absence of a law regulating the right to access information. The paper reviews the legal framework criminalizing the dissemination of false news, as well as government mechanisms for monitoring and responding to rumors, while highlighting the limited institutional efforts to make official information and data accessible. The paper concludes that the information vacuum and lack of transparency contribute to the spread of rumors, making reliance on sanctions alone insufficient.<\/span> Read More<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

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Legal Aid<\/b><\/p>\n