Egyptian security forces have detained 119 people, including at least one child, since the start of July for participating in anti-government protests, human rights advocacy organization Amnesty International reported Thursday.

In recent weeks, frustrations about price hikes and power cuts have fueled demonstrations and calls for revolution against the government of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The arrests have spanned six governorates since early July and come amid rising public discontent over soaring prices and ongoing power cuts in the country.

In reporting on the arrest figures, Amnesty International cited human rights lawyers from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Freedoms (EIPR) and the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF). Seven of these arbitrary arrests occurred over content posted on Facebook and X claiming anti-government protests. Most of the charges investigated against the detainees by the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) include “joining a terrorist group, publishing false news and misuse of social media.”

Arbitrary arrests are prohibited under international law by Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This article establishes the right to liberty and security, entailing that no individual shall be subjected to arbitrary arrests. Referring to the 119 cases presented, Mahmoud Shalaby, Amnesty International’s Egypt Researcher, stated: “The Egyptian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all those arbitrarily detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression”.

Egypt has been experiencing a rise in prices and continuous electricity cuts as part of a series of cost-saving measures. This has created general discontent against the government which has increased pressure against protesters, opposition activists, and human rights advocates. As of June 15, human rights organizations have called for Egypt to stop targeting human rights lawyers and stop disregarding international human rights norms.

Amnesty International calls for a different approach by the government to the situation. As Shalaby said, “Instead of silencing people for expressing their discontent and continuing to use brutal tactics to eradicate any public protests, the government of Egypt must take concrete steps to fulfill people’s social and economic rights.”