Rights and wrongs: UN criticizes Egypt, faces credibility test

The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has once again taken aim at Egypt, denouncing what it calls the abusive practice of “rotation,” in which political opponents and government critics are kept in prison beyond their legal terms by the filing of new charges.

At a press briefing Tuesday, OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said the practice targets “human rights defenders, activists, lawyers, journalists, peaceful protesters and political opponents,” effectively preventing their release even after completing maximum pretrial detention or serving sentences.

The latest case concerns Egyptian poet Galal El-Behairy, who completed a prison sentence in 2021 for publishing works critical of the government, only to face new charges that have prolonged his detention for years. 

Similar measures have been applied to writer and activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, lawyer Hoda Abdel-Moneim, lawyer Ebrahim Metwally Hegazy, and activist Mohammad Adel Fahmy Ali.

OHCHR described the practice as a tool of repression and called for the immediate release of those arbitrarily detained.

Accusations by the UN human rights body against Egypt are not new — but they are also not without controversy. Critics argue that the OHCHR often issues such condemnations without sufficient grounding, while remaining largely silent on similar abuses in other contexts.

The credibility of the OHCHR has itself come under scrutiny. Investigations have shown that nearly 60 Chinese NGOs accredited to the UN in Geneva act as proxies for the Communist Party, intimidating activists and disrupting rights discussions. Some have reportedly infiltrated private meetings, raising concerns about the independence of UN processes.

Allegations of Bias and Selectivity

Observers also point to what they see as partiality in OHCHR communications. Recently, a senior UN human rights official described Israel’s offensive in Gaza as “genocide,” language many viewed as politically charged rather than neutral. 

At the same time, the UN has been criticized for its muted response to serious abuses in countries like China, notably in Xinjiang.

More broadly, experts argue that the UN human rights machinery often perceives itself as a benevolent promoter of rights but remains detached from realities on the ground. 

This institutional posture makes accountability for its own shortcomings nearly impossible.

The OHCHR continues to play a vital role in exposing human rights violations, but its approach has increasingly been questioned. 

While Egypt is urged to halt “rotation” and respect fundamental freedoms, the UN human rights system itself faces mounting pressure to address its politicization, selective criticism, and internal contradictions if it wishes to remain a credible actor on the global stage.