At least 100 people have been arrested in Egypt for participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, with some being released subsequently, according to lawyers involved in the cases. These state-approved protests were held in various locations across Cairo and other parts of Egypt last week. However, some protesters walked to Tahrir Square, which was not authorized for the demonstration, and were swiftly dispersed by security personnel.

For everyone praising Sisi’s stance on the Rafah crossing, don’t forget the state doesn’t brook any real dissent: Over 100 people were arrested in Egypt over the weekend for participating in demonstrations held in solidarity with Palestine.https://t.co/b8T1FBWZQ9

— Sharif Kouddous شريف عبد القدوس (@sharifkouddous) October 22, 2023

Egypt has strict rules against unapproved public protests, and due to its symbolic importance, Tahrir Square is heavily monitored by security services. Out of the total arrests, around 40 were made in Cairo, 65 in Alexandria, and a few in other provinces. Fourteen detainees from Cairo were summoned to the public prosecutor's office, and it is anticipated that the number of releases will increase, according to human rights lawyer Nabeh Elganadi.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been cracking down on dissent throughout his decade-long tenure. Rights groups claim that tens of thousands have been imprisoned on political grounds with little to no due process, although the Egyptian authorities deny these allegations. Notably, some of those detained in relation to the recent protests were supporters of former member of parliament Ahmed Tantawy's campaign to challenge President Sisi in the upcoming December elections.

Tantawy withdrew from the campaign, citing harassment and arrests among his supporters during their attempt to gather the required 25,000 public endorsements. The election authority in Egypt has stated that these accusations are baseless.