Egypt labels pro-democracy activists as terrorists to block their release

Evidence

As I write, liberals and progressives across the world are celebrating the end of the Trump presidency. However, those of us concerned about the many forms of US-led violence across the globe that have been justified under the guise of the war on terror have likely come to the conclusion that not much is about to change. In November 2020, the authoritarian Egyptian regime placed nearly thirty people on a terrorism watch list. This list includes renowned pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdelfattah, who was a leading activist in the Arab Spring revolution for bread, dignity, and social justice. Perhaps the strategy here is to ensure that even if President Joe Biden or any international body pressures the Egyptian regime to release detained human rights activists, Abdelfattah and others who have also been labeled “terrorists” will never see justice. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 41

Categorization

Category: Factual Claims

• QUESTION: Was Abdelfattah ever released under Biden pressure, or does the terrorism label persist?

Broader Connections

• Labeling activists terrorists can block their release even under international pressure #exemplifies (0.95)