Egypt launches mass crackdown on online content creators
Dozens arrested under vague morality laws as rights groups warn of assault on free expression
CAIRO, Egypt (MNTV) — Egyptian authorities have carried out a sweeping campaign of arrests and prosecutions targeting online content creators since July 2025, drawing condemnation from human rights groups over what they describe as an attack on free expression.
According to Interior Ministry statements, at least 29 people—including 19 women and one child—were arrested or prosecuted between late July and late August for videos and posts on platforms such as TikTok.
Media and human rights groups reported an additional eight cases. Those detained faced charges ranging from “violating family values” and “offending public morals” to “money laundering.”
Human Rights Watch said the crackdown reflects the government’s attempt to eliminate remaining spaces for expression.
“This is part of the government’s relentless attempt to criminalize all forms of expression that do not conform with its political or social views,” said Amr Magdi, senior researcher for the Middle East and North Africa.
Among those targeted was 16-year-old Nour Tufaha, sentenced in late August to two years in prison for “promoting vice and debauchery” after posting dance videos.
Other arrests included TikTok personalities with large followings, such as Suzy El Ordoneya, who was charged with publishing “indecent” content and “money laundering,” and Mohamed Shaker, accused of “violating societal values.”
Police also detained four belly dancers and several tattoo artists for allegedly sharing content that contradicted “societal traditions.”
Authorities invoked Egypt’s 2018 Cybercrime Law, which allows for prison terms of up to three years and fines for “violating family principles or values.”
Rights groups say the law, combined with loosely defined penal code provisions on “indecency” and “inciting debauchery,” gives prosecutors and judges unchecked power to silence dissent.
The campaign has also included asset freezes, travel bans, and ongoing pretrial detentions. Pro-government lawyers have filed dozens of complaints, while lawmakers warned that TikTok could face restrictions if it fails to align content with “societal values.”
Rights groups argue that the arrests disproportionately target women and young people, reinforcing systemic discrimination.
They stressed that Egypt’s actions breach constitutional guarantees and international obligations under treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“The authorities should immediately release all those detained for online expression and repeal laws that criminalize privacy, free speech, and belief in the name of morality,” Human Rights Watch urged.
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