(Amnesty International) The arrest of presidential candidate and former Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Sami Anan, is an attack on the rights to public participation and freedom of expression by eliminating any serious opposition to President Abdelfattah al-Sisi in the upcoming presidential elections, Amnesty International said today.
“This arbitrary arrest of a potential presidential candidate shows a blatant disregard for the rights to freedom of expression and association and the right to public participation.” said Najia Bounaim, North Africa Campaigns Director at Amnesty International.
Sami Anan had announced his intention to run in the presidential elections on 20 January in a video published on his campaign’s Facebook page. On 23 January, the Armed Forces announced through a statement published on its official Facebook page that Sami Anan must be interrogated and face legal action for announcing his nomination in the presidential elections “without obtaining the permission of the Armed Forces.”