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Eman el-Shazly, a 45-year-old mother of four from Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, has been detained by Egyptian authorities. Her husband, Zeesharn Moustapha, and her lawyer maintain that her arrest is connected to the online activism of her sister. El-Shazly was taken from her mother’s home in Cairo in the early hours of Monday, 17 August, following a 24-hour period in which Egyptian security forces forcefully entered the property, demanding she persuade her sister to cease her critical online activities.
The ordeal has not only affected Eman el-Shazly but also other members of her family, with three of her siblings detained. Both of her brothers were already in custody at the time of her arrest, and one sister was detained shortly thereafter. Attempts to get a response from the Egyptian consulate in London have so far been unsuccessful. Moustapha expressed deep concern about the family’s state, saying, “The family’s a bit traumatised. [The children] are heartbroken,” and urged the UK government to act promptly by adding, “We really need the UK government to get their fingers out as quickly as possible.” The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has acknowledged their involvement by stating they are supporting the family and engaging with Egyptian authorities.
According to Moustapha, el-Shazly had traveled to Egypt to care for her ill mother, who was making 18-hour round trips to deliver food to her detained brothers, as detainees reportedly rely on family-supplied meals in overcrowded cells. Describing the detention conditions, Moustapha said, “There’s 30 people in a cell and they all sleep on a concrete floor. Each day one inmate’s family brings food for all people. If that family cannot afford it, they don’t eat. Imagine the worst scenario, and it’s even worse.” On Sunday, 16 August, security forces raided the household, causing damage and instructing el-Shazly to stop her sister from criticizing the Egyptian government on YouTube. About a day later, el-Shazly called her husband, frightened and shouting, “they’re coming to get me.”
Currently held at the 10th Ramadan Rehabilitation Centre, el-Shazly’s detention has been described by her lawyer, Arfan Rashid, as politically motivated. Rashid told the BBC, “These are trumped up charges and an attempt by Egyptian authorities to silence a political activist in the UK – her sister.” He added that her arrest appears to be “punishment by proxy” and part of “a longstanding and documented pattern of pressure” against her sister. Despite these pressures, el-Shazly’s sister remains determined to continue her activism, acknowledging the government’s tactics but emphasizing her duty to speak out. The UK government’s country policy on Egypt highlights similar instances where relatives of activists have been targeted.
El-Shazly’s lawyer pointed out that her arrest coincides with similar allegations faced by her brothers, Hassan and Eid, who have been detained repeatedly since their initial arrest in 2020. The siblings share the same case file number, indicating linked charges. Moustapha maintains that none of the family members committed any crimes, framing the detention as punitive retaliation for his sister-in-law’s videos. He also raised grave concerns about historic abuse within the family, recounting that a cousin had allegedly been electrocuted during detention and subsequently lost the ability to speak. There has been no contact with el-Shazly since her detention began.
Moustapha criticized what he described as the UK government’s slow response, highlighting that no wellness checks for his wife have been conducted and that he himself had to inform the FCDO of her detention location. The FCDO declined to comment on these claims when approached. Support for the family mainly comes from Perry Barr MP Ayoub Khan and Rashid Law. As they await further developments, Moustapha hopes the case will gain the attention of Alistair Burt, the UK’s envoy for complex consular issues. Meanwhile, twelve children remain anxiously waiting for news about their detained parents
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