By EveryOne Group

Rome / Arish, June 25, 2012. The Egyptian activist, Hamdy Al-Azazy, winner of the 2011 Makwan Prize, has informed us that he believes his life is in danger. The progressive affirmation of fundamentalist movements in the new Egypt, culminating in the political victories of the Muslim Brotherhood, has gradually reduced the pressure from the police, army and intelligence services on the traffickers in human beings in the Sinai.

These traffickers are connected to jihadist armed groups, as shown in reports by EveryOne Group and confirmed by the Israeli secret services. Currently, about 1500 refugees from Eritrea and other sub-Saharan countries are in the hands of traffickers who are asking the families of the hostages as much as $50,000 per head to ensure their release.

The police are no longer taking effective action against their activities, and the Bedouin task force created last year to combat the trafficking in human organs and slaves has disbanded (after losing the support of the Egyptian Government) leaving the Sinai in the hands of local mafias. "I feel that because of my work against the traffickers and my interviews given to the press, I will soon be killed," Hamdy writes to us, "pray for me."

The most recent anti-trafficking interview given by the activist appeared yesterday in the pages of the newspaper "Alahram". EveryOne Group has reported the plight of Hamdy Al-Azazy to the international organization Front Line Defenders (which protects nonviolent activists around the world) and to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Navi Pillay. "Hamdy’s work is crucial, because at least the horrors of the Sinai are being documented and reported," said EveryOne in its statement, "it is essential that the humanitarian institutions that protect the work of human rights defenders take urgent action to prevent Hamdy being hit by the lords of refugee trafficking in Africa and the Islamic fundamentalism which profits from these criminal activities. "

In the photo, Hamdy Al-Azazy