Egypt have to release 46 activists, many of whom have been hold for several years in pre-trial detention.

They include a prominent left-wing lawyer, Haytham Mohammadain, accused of being a member of a terrorist group by a blanket charge levelled at critics of the government.

On Wednesday, the US announced it would with-hold $130m (£113m) of aid for Egypt's failure to improve its human rights records.

Human Rights Watch accused Cairo of harassing environmental groups ahead of COP27, which it is hosting in November 2022.

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi has repeatedly denied that there are political prisoners in his country Egypt.