A/HRC/48/28 Supreme State Security Prosecutor. Since his arrest, M. El-Baqer’s detention has been reportedly renewed in absentia by the Criminal Court in Cairo every 15 to 45 days. 47. According to information received by OHCHR, on 31 August 2020 Mr. El-Baqer was brought before the Supreme State Security Prosecutor and accused under a new Case No. 855/2020 for “joining a terrorist organization” and “participating in a criminal agreement with the intention of committing a terrorist crime.” Mr. El-Baqer’s pre-trial detention is reportedly renewed periodically under the first case. On 23 November 2020, the Cairo Criminal Court reportedly published its decision to add Mr. El-Baqer to the terrorist list in the Egyptian Official Gazette on 19 November 2020, which includes restrictions such as a travel ban and a freeze of assets for three years. At the March 2021 session of the Human Rights Council, a group of 26 States addressing cases of alleged reprisals, amongst other issues, called for Mr. El-Baqer’s release.155 48. The case of Mr. Ramy Kamel Saied Salib, human rights defender of the Maspero Youth Foundation working on the rights of members of the Coptic Christian minority, was included in the 2020 report of the Secretary-General156 related to his arrest, detention and torture, allegedly for his attempted participation in the 2019 Forum on Minority Issues (EGY 13/2019157). On 23 November 2019, he was reportedly taken from his home without a warrant by plain-clothes officers and members of the Special Forces and placed in pre-trial detention on charges of joining a terrorist group and spreading false news (Case No.1475/2019). 49. On 29 July 2020, special procedures mandate holders addressed Mr. Kamel’s pre-trial detention and fair trial guarantees under case 1475/2019. His detention has been periodically renewed without his presence or that of his lawyers. They also addressed his health conditions and attempts by his family to send him medication (EGY 10/2020). On 4 August 2020, mandate holders raised concerns publicly about the imprisonment of Mr. Kamel and other defenders, who find their lives at increasing risk of Covid-19 due to pre-existing medical conditions, and who have reportedly not been allowed to communicate regularly with their families or lawyers.158 In February 2021, mandate holders addressed the situation of Mr. Kamel again expressing concerns about his health condition, which has reportedly deteriorated significantly since his arrest (EGY 2/2021). According to information received by OHCHR, since his arrest, Mr. Kamel’s pre-trial detention has been continuously renewed pending investigations. No trial has reportedly been set for his case. On 5 May 2021, Mr. Kamel’s was reportedly summoned by the Public Prosecution who informed him that he is banned from international travel. 50. Multiple UN actors have addressed Egyptian legislation impacting individuals and civil society groups’ ability to cooperate with the UN, which has been included in the report of the Secretary-General since 2017. 159 According to information received by OHCHR, February 2020 amendments made to the Terrorist Entities Law (Law 8 of 2015) and the AntiTerrorism Law (Law 94 of 2015) reportedly continue to be used in the reporting period to target human rights defenders, and inhibit or punish them for their cooperation with the UN. 51. On 11 January 2021, the implementing regulations of NGO Law 149/2019 (see A/HRC/45/36, Annex II para. 51–53) were published in the official gazette following their adoption (Prime Ministerial Decree 104 of 2021). The regulations reportedly further restrict the work of national and international civil society organizations and associations by defining a narrow role for them, significantly constraining their activities, and granting the authorities wide-ranging monitoring power and broad discretion to regulate and dissolve them. This includes civil society’s engagement with foreign entities such as the UN, for which prior authorization by the Ministry of Interior is required. Relatedly, a number of organizations 155 156 157 158 159 Item 4, General Debate, 32nd Meeting, 46th Regular Session Human Rights Council, 12 March 2021, at https://media.un.org/en/asset/k14/k141uwvm66 (time stamp 00:42:30). A/HRC/45/36, para. 69 and Annex I paras. 47-48. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35195. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35512. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26182&LangID=E. A/HRC/45/36, Annex II, paras. 50-53; A/HRC/42/30, Annex II, paras. 48–50; A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, paras. 19, 22; A/HRC/36/31, Annex I, para. 33. 59