Egyptian human rights defender arrested in Beirut, later released

Egyptian human rights activist Abdelrahman Tarek was arrested by Lebanese authorities in Beirut on Wednesday before being later released, according to multiple sources. 

Tarek, known by his nickname Moka, had previously been arbitrarily imprisoned for seven years in Egypt for his human rights advocacy, according to Daraj news outlet, where he was tortured by Egyptian authorities. 

Moka was released in June 2022 and moved to Beirut in the winter of that year. 

“أخويا عبدالرحمن طارق الشهير بموكا اتقبض عليه … مجموعة من قوات الامن اللبنانية اخدوه من بيته ومنعرفش ليه ولا ايه السبب ولا نعرف مكانه فين.. رجاء سيبه موكا يعيش حياته مش كفاية ٧ سنين حبس ضاعوا من عمره؟”

العبارة لسارة طارق شقيقة عبدالرحمن كتبتها على فيسبوك بعد ساعات من اعتقال… pic.twitter.com/J1eZn2lfoY

— Daraj Media (@Daraj_media) May 24, 2023

The UN’s Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Mary Lawlor tweeted that Moka’s arrest was “extremely disturbing”.

Moka’s sister Sara Tarek posted on Facebook at around 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT) on Wednesday that he was taken from his house by Lebanese security forces for unknown reasons. 

In a follow-up post, she said that Moka was on the phone with a friend when Lebanese officers allegedly burst into his house and overheard that he would be returned to Egypt.

Moka was eventually released by Lebanese authorities on Wednesday evening, according to his sister.