The Egyptian authorities must release dozens of people detained for their association with a Gen Z online group calling for political change and publishing content critical of the government, Amnesty International said today.
Since late May, officers from the National Security Agency (NSA) arrested at least 50 people, including nine women, for being part of the “Gen Z002” group on the social media platform, Discord, which called in October 2025 for toppling President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Amnesty International investigated how NSA officers arrested six men from their homes or workplaces across three governorates and subjected them to enforced disappearance for periods ranging from six to 40 days. At least one was subjected to torture or other ill-treatment.
The 50 people arrested are now being investigated in two separate cases before the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) under terrorism-related and publishing false news charges.
Exercising the right to freedom of expression online and offline, should never be grounds for arrest or prosecution.
Mahmoud Shalaby, Amnesty International
“It is outrageous that people in Egypt can end up arbitrarily detained, forcibly disappeared and at risk of torture and other ill-treatment simply for being part of an online group. Everyone has the right to join online groups and express criticism of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government. Exercising the right to freedom of expression online and offline, should never be grounds for arrest or prosecution,” said Mahmoud Shalaby, Regional Researcher at Amnesty International.
“The Egyptian authorities must immediately end the vicious cycle of abusive detention and release all those detained solely for being part of the online group or for criticizing fuel or electricity price increases or commenting on social media about their daily struggles. Authorities must immediately stop using terrorism-related charges to prosecute people for exercising their right to
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