In Egypt, leaving prison does not mean escaping the security state

In Egypt, former prisoners continue to face severe restrictions and the constant threat of renewed detention even after their official release, according to a memoir by Abdelrahman ElGendy titled Huna. Rather than gaining true freedom, released individuals remain subjected to intensive state surveillance and enforced silence.

The situation highlights the ongoing reach of Egypt's security apparatus, which maintains tight control over dissidents and former inmates outside of physical prison walls. The memoir sheds light on the systemic nature of post-incarceration harassment managed by security forces guarding facilities such as Cairo's Tora prison.