The United Nations has expressed serious concerns over Egypt’s proposed amendments to its Code of Criminal Procedure, warning that the legislation – pending President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s approval – could erode legal protections and further constrict civic space in the country.

According to the UN Human Rights Office, the bill grants excessive discretionary powers to public prosecutors, including over pre-trial detention, communications surveillance, and travel bans. It also risks weakening accountability for state actors and undermining the right to effective legal representation.

The lack of transparency – including undisclosed last-minute amendments, has further alarmed international observers, casting doubt on Egypt’s commitment to international human rights obligations. These developments fit into a broader pattern of judicial secularization in Egypt, where the legal system has increasingly been used to suppress dissent and control political narratives since 2013.

If passed, the revised code may trigger wider diplomatic fallout, particularly with Western states and rights-focused international organizations, potentially impacting foreign aid, security cooperation, and Egypt’s global standing.

This moment reflects a deeper geopolitical tension: authoritarian resilience vs. international norms. Egypt, a pivotal Arab state and regional security partner, appears to be betting that its strategic value outweighs the consequences of domestic repression. Whether that calculus holds – especially amid global human rights scrutiny and rising regional instability, remains to be seen.