Rights group: Egypt withheld documents of dissidents abroad

By The Associated Press

The group Human Rights Watch says Egypt’s authorities have refused to issue or renew passports, birth certificates and other documents for more than two dozens journalists, critics and lawyers living abroad. The group said Monday it spoke to 26 Egyptians living in six countries whose requests for essential documents were denied. It said the refusals are a sign the Egyptian government is ramping up its efforts to silence dissent abroad. Since coming to power in 2014, President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi’s government has overseen a wide-ranging crackdown on dissent, jailing thousands. Egypt’s authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment.