In Egypt, leaving prison does not mean escaping the security state
In Egypt, leaving prison does not mean escaping the security state Submitted by Asim Qureshi on Sun, 09/27/2026 - 15:09 Abdelrahman ElGendy's memoir Huna shows how release from an Egyptian prison brings surveillance, enforced silence and the threat of renewed detention Security forces guard Cairo's Tora prison, one of several in which Abdelrahman ElGendy was held over six years of detention, on…
In Egypt, being released from prison does not mean escaping the pervasive security state. This is the harsh reality faced by Abdelrahman ElGendy, a teenager who was unlawfully detained for over six years. Upon his release, ElGendy, now an adult, finds himself ensnared in a new kind of imprisonment - a "political barzakh" where the omnipresent gaze of the state continues to loom over him.
The sounds and sensations of everyday life become a constant reminder of his past, a never-ending assault that feels as real as the physical detention he endured. The experience of post-detention life is not unique to ElGendy; it mirrors the haunting ordeal of others who have been subjected to the national security state's iron fist.
These individuals, like ElGendy, are forced into a state of hypervigilance, constantly on edge, and unable to truly live freely. The security state's reach is pervasive, extending into even the most intimate aspects of life, making it impossible to escape the constant threat of unlawful violence.
Written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
