The German embassy in Cairo has lodged a complaint with the Egyptian government over the excessive surveillance of its participants at the World Climate Conference (COP27) being held in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.
According to the embassy, Egyptian security officials kept a close eye on some events held in the German pavilion, to the point of videotaping them. The German Embassy has called on the Egyptian authorities to cease this activity.
In recent days, the German conference area has hosted events focusing on the human rights situation in Egypt. Among the participants were the directors of Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International, Tirana Hassan and Agnès Callamard, along with Egyptian activist Sanaa Saif, a filmmaker who has served prison sentences in Egypt.
In a statement released before the start of the summit, HRW deplored the existence of cameras in cabs leading to the event, and the fact that the Egyptian government has forced all attendees to download an application that collects personal information and requires access to the camera, microphone and location service of the cell phone.
«A lot of data,» the group notes, «that raises concerns about participants’ right to privacy.»
The NGO recalls that international law guarantees everyone the right to free, active and meaningful participation in public affairs at international, national, regional and local levels. The right to participation, it adds, is inextricably linked to other human rights such as the right to peaceful assembly and association and freedom of expression.
During a visit earlier this week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for the release of Alaa Abdel Fatah, an Egyptian-British activist who has served long prison sentences and is currently on hunger strike in jail.
