Statement
November 3, 2026
The Regional Coalition for Women Human Rights Defenders in South West Asia and North Africa (WHRDMENA) is monitoring the summons issued by the Cairo Appeals Prosecutor’s Office in Al-Rehab of Dr. Aida Seif al-Dawla, a human rights activist, feminist, psychiatrist, woman human rights defender, and one of the founders and directors of the El-Nadeem Center for the Treatment and Psychological Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence. This summons comes as part of the investigations being conducted by the Public Prosecution in Case No. 30 of 2026, with the hearing scheduled for Monday, November 9, 2026— which was postponed from the first of November—due to health concerns regarding Dr. Seif al-Dawla. This is the second summons Dr. Seif al-Dawla has received in less than a year, without her being informed of the subject of the investigation or the charges against her.
It is worth noting that Dr. Seif al-Dawla was first summoned on February 15, 2026, where she was accused of spreading false news with the intent to disturb public peace; at that time, the Supreme State Security Prosecution decided to impose a bail of 100,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately 2,100 U.S. dollars at the time) for her release from the Supreme State Security Prosecution’s detention facility (1). The bail amount set by the Supreme State Security Prosecution at that time is now the second-highest bail amount imposed, following the New Cairo Misdemeanor Court’s decision a few days ago to investigate journalist and woman human rights defender Lina Attallah and imposed the maximum penalty on her—a fine of 3 million Egyptian pounds (equivalent to 54,000 U.S. dollars) (2).
The Regional Coalition for Women Human Rights Defenders in South West Asia and North Africa (WHRDMENA) wonders when the systematic targeting of Dr. Seif al-Dawla in particular, and Egyptian women human rights defenders in general, will cease, and warns that what lies ahead will be a systematic judicial pattern of persecuting and summoning more women human rights defenders and imposing harsh penalties on them, as well as wondering who will be next. The Regional Coalition for Women Human Rights Defenders stands in full solidarity with Dr. Aida Seif al-Dawla and calls on all local, regional, and international groups and organizations to stand in solidarity with Dr. Seif al-Dawla and condemn her prosecution.
We extend our deepest respect and appreciation to Dr. Aida Seif al-Dawla and El-Nadeem Center for the Treatment and Psychological Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence for their courageous stances against all forms of violence and for standing by its victims, as well as for their tireless work in providing psychological treatment and rehabilitation at a time when incidents of violence and torture by the Egyptian police are on the rise.
