The report, submitted to the UN Committee against Torture, tracked the use of methods including "beatings, electrical shocks, sexual violence" and denial of access to medical care by members of the security services.
Egyptian authorities' "use of torture is so widespread and systematic as to amount to a crime against humanity under customary international law," said the coalition of six rights groups that authored the report, including the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF), Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, and London-based human rights organization REDRES.
Torture has been used "as a political tool to curtail dissent" in Egypt's long-running practice of targeting "human rights defenders, minorities, journalists, academics and opposition politicians," according to Mohamed Lotfy, the ECRF’s executive director.
Cairo has long been criticized for its rights record during the decade-long rule of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi who oversaw a crackdown on dissent. Rights groups estimate the country has around 60,000 political prisoners.
According to Monday's report, the use of torture is "part of a state policy," enabled by "emergency laws, 'counter-terrorism' laws and policies, and rampant impunity" for violations.
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