The Egyptian authorities have maintained and intensified the latest crackdown on dissent, which started in December 2017 ahead of the presidential elections, Amnesty International said. Over the past 10 months, security forces have arbitrarily arrested and detained at least 111 people solely for peacefully expressing critical opinions about the authorities or for calling for or participating in protests or political gatherings. At least 70 of them remain imprisoned, facing charges that carry prison sentences of up to 15 years.