Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Monday called on German authorities to protect the Egyptian journalist Basma Mostafa against alleged surveillance, intimidation and harassment in Germany by the Egyptian authorities.

Anja Osterhaus, the executive director of RSF’s German section, stated that it is “scandalous” that Basma Mostafa is subjected to political targeting by the Egyptian authorities on German soil. The RSF highlighted that “Basma Mostafa’s experience is a stark reminder of the intransigence of authoritarian states.”

The alleged “transnational repression” against the Egyptian investigative journalist Basma Mostafa in Germany was discussed in a report by the UN Special Rapporteurs on December 23, 2024. Mostafa was arrested three times over a decade and left Egypt in 2020. She is currently living in exile in Berlin, Germany. The UN Special Rapporteurs’ report alleged that the Egyptian authorities instigated and harassed the journalist through continuous surveillance and smear campaigns on social media, which included threats of serious violence such as rape. The report illuminated the incident on July 18, 2022, when the Egyptian president visited Berlin. During a demonstration, Basma Mostafa was subjected to verbal as well as physical abuse. An individual twisted her arm, hit her shoulder, and slapped her in the face. After the incident, there were further allegations of continuous surveillance and harassment by numerous Egyptian state officials.

The UN special rapporteurs displayed deep concern about the alleged transnational repression against the Egyptian journalist:

Without wishing to prejudge the accuracy of the above-mentioned allegations, we express great concern about the repeated and prolonged harassment, acts of intimidation and cyberattack attempts against Ms. Mostafa, which appear to indicate that she is a victim of transnational repression in direct retribution for her work as a journalist and human rights defender.

Previously, in April 2025, Luise Amtsberg, the former German federal government commissioner for human rights, stated that Germany “vehemently” opposed transnational repression and views it as “a violation of international human rights standards and of state sovereignty.” The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) prescribes the right to freedom to hold opinions without interference and freedom of expression (Article 19) and the right to privacy (Article 17). The former Federal Government Commissioner further expressed that “Germany offers protection and safety to foreign human rights defenders, journalists, and opposition leaders persecuted in their home countries. We must not tolerate continued threats here to their fundamental freedoms.”

The RSF underlined that Germany’s verbal commitment to protect against political repression carried out by another state outside of its territory must be brought about promptly.