ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the repression of people engaged in human rights activism in Egypt since the Revolution of 2011. It examines in particular the stigmatisation of human rights defenders by state authorities and the media, negative narratives which have had a direct effect on their security, relationships and the legitimacy of their human rights work. Stigmatisation tactics play upon the public’s nationalist sentiments, religious beliefs and cultural values. This chapter also explores the ways in which gender shapes the risks that women defenders in Egypt face; their activism is interpreted within patriarchal expectations about the “proper” role of women in society. We found that threats against women defenders often centred on their sexuality and their standing in society. This chapter draws attention to the emotional journeys that defenders experience, focusing on how threats and attacks and the work itself affected their mental and emotional wellbeing – an area they struggled to manage, both individually and collectively. We highlight reflections by defenders of the steps needed to protect and sustain them in the face of high risks.
