Egyptian security authorities confiscated the passport of Mohamed Abdel Salam, executive director of the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE), the rights group said in a statement.
According to the statement, Abdel Salam was stopped by National Security officers at Cairo International Airport in the early hours of Tuesday, upon his return from Berlin, and was subjected to an “unlawful interrogation.” The questioning reportedly focused on his travel history, the nature of his work with the organization, and whether he was involved in any legal cases.
According to the group, Abdel Salam was detained for an hour without legal grounds before being informed that his passport had been seized. He was told to report to the National Security Agency in Cairo for further questioning and to retrieve his passport.
“This incident is part of an ongoing pattern of security harassment and restrictions on Abdel Salam’s right to freedom of movement, which he has faced for many years,” AFTE said. “He was placed on a travel watch list in 2012, while working as a researcher at AFTE.”
AFTE noted that in 2018, Abdel Salam was notified he had been placed on a “security inspection list” prior to international travel—a measure the group called illegal and administered by the National Security office at the airport. This included baggage inspections and questioning about his travel destinations and purposes.
On August 22, 2018, Abdel Salam was again stopped at Cairo airport before boarding a flight to Beirut. His passport was confiscated, and he was directed to the National Security office in Alexandria. At the time, he was head of AFTE’s research unit. He remained subject to a travel ban until 2023, when he obtained a new passport.
AFTE added that even after resuming international travel, Abdel Salam continued to undergo security checks from June 2023 through May 2025.
AFTE, a nongovernmental organization established in 2006 and registered under Egyptian law as a law firm, advocates for freedom of expression and access to information. Its work involves research, legal aid, documentation, and advocacy, serving a wide constituency that includes students, academics, journalists, artists, politicians and public officials.
