Who Knew? Repressive Police-State Tactics At COP-27 Reveal Egypt As Inept, Repressive Police State

[hatrack]

An empty pen designed to contain protesters in the middle of the desert, harassment and surveillance of Cop27 delegates (including evidence that the official conference app could spy on them), food and water shortages, and widespread problems with accommodation have all served to undermine the Egyptian government’s attempts to use the climate talk to bolster its international image. Belgian politician Séverine de Laveleye said she was briefly detained by Egyptian security forces while entering the conference centre simply for carrying badges depicting some of Egypt’s 65,000 political prisoners, including British-Egyptian democracy activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah. “It’s clear that human rights aren’t even respected at the heart of the Cop,” she said. “Sisi’s Egypt is one of repression.”

Egypt’s choice to host the vital climate talks in the remote elite resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh meant Cop27 ensured that attendees saw only a carefully calibrated view of the country. Yet the Cop27 presidency failed to provide the intended public image boost to President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi’s rule. Criticism worsened as the negotiations became increasingly chaotic in their final hours. One observer said: “Veterans are now branding this the worst organised Cop in 30 years.”

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They also visibly chafed at the mention of Abd el-Fattah’s name or human rights, demanding focus solely on the climate talks. “We’re tired of these apparently intentional distractions from climate issues, excessive focus on unfounded allegations,” said Wael Aboulmagd, special representative to the Cop27 president. The United N ationsis now reportedly investigating Egyptian security forces’ blatant surveillance of attendees, including recording Seif during events. Aboulmagd labelled this “ludicrous”, adding: “Why would any untoward surveillance exist in an open event?”

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An Egyptian human rights activist who attended Cop27 regarded the authorities’ reported surveillance as openly defiant of the UN-led talks. “It’s time for them to be held accountable,” he said. The activist, who asked not to be named, said despite the Egyptian state’s efforts, Cop27 also provided a rare opportunity to showcase the crackdown on rights in Egypt to the outside world. “The government forgot how to defend themselves as they’re so dependent on repression. They have lost, and lost badly and hurt their image.”

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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/20/cop27-backfires-egypt-repression-climate-summit

[Mickju]

1. Yeah, we already knew that.