Egypt has a long and powerful history of freedom activists who have spoken out for human rights, democracy, gender equality, freedom of speech, and social justice — often at great personal risk.
Here are some of the most well-known freedom activists from Egypt, both past and present:
1. Wael Ghonim
- Role in the 2011 Revolution: Became a symbol of the Tahrir Square uprising
- Helped run the Facebook page “We Are All Khaled Said”, which mobilized millions
- Former Google executive; used tech to fight state brutality
- Detained and later released — wrote the memoir “Revolution 2.0”
2. Alaa Abd El-Fattah
- Prominent blogger, software developer, and activist
- Vocal against both Mubarak and post-revolution governments
- Has been repeatedly jailed for peaceful protests and criticism of the regime
- Symbol of the digital age activism in the Arab world
3. Esraa Abdel Fattah
- Nicknamed the “Facebook Girl” after co-founding the April 6 Youth Movement
- Helped organize labor protests in 2008 using social media
- Detained multiple times for her activism
- Won international awards for freedom of expression
4. Ahmed Maher
- Co-founder of the April 6 Youth Movement
- Played a major role in organizing peaceful protests before and during the 2011 revolution
- Arrested and sentenced under protest laws after the revolution
- A symbol of the struggle for civil liberties in Egypt
5. Mona Seif
- Human rights advocate, co-founder of the No to Military Trials for Civilians campaign
- Sister of Alaa Abd El-Fattah
- Has raised awareness about abuse by military courts and the lack of due process
- Known for grassroots mobilization
6. Khaled Said (not an activist, but a martyr who sparked a movement)
- A young man beaten to death by police in Alexandria in 2010
- His death sparked the “We Are All Khaled Said” movement on Facebook
- Became a symbol of police brutality and injustice
7. Nawal El Saadawi (1921–2021)
- Feminist, writer, and medical doctor
- Advocated for women’s rights, freedom of speech, and secularism
- Spoke out against female genital mutilation (FGM), patriarchy, and religious extremism
- Jailed and banned, but remained one of the Arab world’s boldest voices
8. Mohamed ElBaradei
- Nobel Peace Prize laureate (2005), former head of the IAEA
- Briefly served as Vice President after the 2011 revolution
- Advocated for civil rights, democracy, and rule of law
- Resigned in protest after the 2013 crackdown on demonstrators
