Press Releases

July 19, 2021 (Washington, DC) – Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), co-chairs of Congress’ Egypt Human Rights Caucus, issued the following statement today on the imprisonment of Egyptian women and girls for posting on TikTok:

“We urge the Egyptian government to release the eight young women and girls arrested in what have become known as the ‘TikTok cases.’ After being charged with ‘assault of the Egyptian family and society’s values and principles,’ ‘incitement to debauchery,’ and ‘association with others to lure and exploit girls through live streaming,’ they received prison sentences ranging from 2 to 10 years for engaging in routine use of social media.

“These harsh prison sentences are unprecedented, in violation of Egyptian constitutional protections, and point to the intensifying suppression of Egyptian women’s rights.  The imposition of draconian punishments on women for exercising basic freedoms is a flagrant human rights abuse, and brings into question the legitimacy of the Egyptian justice system and security agencies. The Egyptian government should immediately rescind these charges and release these women.”