An Egyptian human rights group has condemned Egypt’s ongoing security campaign against TikTok content creators, describing it as a “classist and morally charged” crackdown that disproportionately targets women from low-income backgrounds.
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) today urged the Ministry of Interior and the Public Prosecution to halt the “ferocious” campaign, launched in 2020, that prosecutes online creators using vague charges like “violating Egyptian family values.”
EIPR’s statement came after a wave of arrests that began Friday, with authorities detaining at least seven social media influencers, many of them women known for their low-brow TikTok content.
On Friday, authorities announced the arrest of Om Mecca and Om Sagda, influencers known for comedy videos, on accusations of “offensive language, violating public decency, and charges related to the dubious origins of their wealth.”
The following day, officials reported the arrest of another 19 years old creator known as “Suzy El Ordoneya,” followed by the arrest of a male creator known as “Modahim,” who also faces drug possession charges, in addition to publishing indecent videos.
By Sunday, the campaign had widened to include more content creators such as “Qamar El-Wekala,” “Shaker Mahzoor Delwaqti,” and his manager, who were also accused of drug and weapons possession in addition to moral charges.
Earlier last week, police arrested content creator “Marwa bint Mubarak” on accusations that she had posted defamatory videos accusing another creator of human organ trafficking.
EIPR emphasized that at least one of those arrested is a minor, and said the campaign follows incitement and complaints from lawyers targeting women from marginalized communities.
The rights group said the crackdown reflects a broader state-driven agenda of social control that seeks to standardize how Egyptians should look, think and behave.
It warned that Article 25 of Egypt’s Anti-Cyber and Information Technology Crimes Law—which references “Egyptian family values”—has become a legal pretext to suppress expression and selectively punish creators.
According to EIPR, more than 150 people have been prosecuted under this article in at least 109 cases since 2020. The group believes the actual number may be higher.
The arrests coincide with ongoing parliamentary meetings between Egypt’s Communications Committee and TikTok representatives, convened to discuss “content improvement.” EIPR noted that this timing echoes events from 2020, when state media pressure similarly preceded a wave of arrests targeting female TikTokers.
