Corporation, accusing it of violent acts after it published information about the possible environmental impact of mining activities on the Morona Santiago province. Consequently, the organization remained under threat of closure. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHTS In January, the Kichwa People of Sarayaku denounced government negotiations aimed at granting permission to international companies to extract oil from their territory without consulting the community.1 In June, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued a resolution in the Kichwa Indigenous People of Sarayaku v Ecuador case. It acknowledged that the state had complied with most of the orders contained in its 2012 ruling. The Court requested further information from the government regarding the obligation to provide permanent training and capacity building to help judicial functionaries resolve cases where the rights of Indigenous Peoples had been violated. In December the Court held a hearing on state compliance with court orders relating to the removal of explosives from Sarayaku territory and the right of the people affected by such measures to enjoy prior consultation. The Court is expected to issue its resolution in 2017. In December, following a series of violent acts and harassment by the authorities against the Shuar Indigenous Peoples for their opposition to a mining project in Morona Santiago, the government declared a state of emergency in the area and arrested the President of the Interprovincial Federation of Shuar Centres, Agustín Wachapá. HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS In January, campesino leaders Manuel Trujillo and Manuela Pacheco were accused of “terrorism” after they participated in a campaign to oppose the construction of a hydroelectric plant that the community believed would restrict their right to water.2 They were acquitted later that month due to lack of evidence. Amnesty International Report 2016/17 In July, a co-ordinator of the Ombudsman’s Office rejected a complaint by the Women Defenders of Mother Earth Front who alleged that they were assaulted and arbitrarily arrested during a peaceful protest against a mining project in the province of Cuenca. The women requested that the decision be reviewed in line with the Ombudsman’s procedures. There was no decision by the end of the year. 1. Una vez más Ecuador estaría ignorando los derechos de los pueblos indígenas en favor de la explotación petrolera (AMR 28/3360/2016) 2. Ecuador: Community leaders accused of terrorism (AMR 28/3205/2016) EGYPT Arab Republic of Egypt Head of state: Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Head of government: Sherif Ismail The authorities used mass arbitrary arrests to suppress demonstrations and dissent, detaining journalists, human rights defenders and protesters, and restricted the activities of human rights organizations. The National Security Agency (NSA) subjected hundreds of detainees to enforced disappearance; officers of the NSA and other security forces tortured and otherwise ill-treated detainees. Security forces used excessive lethal force during regular policing and in incidents that may have amounted to extrajudicial executions. Mass unfair trials continued before civilian and military courts. The authorities failed to adequately investigate human rights violations and bring perpetrators to justice. Women continued to face sexual and gender-based violence. The government continued to restrict religious minorities and prosecuted people for defamation of religion. Individuals faced imprisonment for “debauchery” on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation. Hundreds of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants were detained while seeking to cross the 145