Egyptian actors Amr Waked and Khaled Abu El Naga face accusations of "high treason" in Egypt after criticizing alleged human rights violations by the Egyptian government at a March 25 meeting with US members of Congress in Washington. Waked and Abu El Naga also used their meeting with the US lawmakers to lobby against proposed constitutional amendments that would allow President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to remain in office until 2034 and would also, critics say, "enshrine military rule."

The controversial proposed amendments — which won overwhelming approval in a preliminary vote in the majority pro-government parliament in mid-February — will be put to a final vote in parliament April 14 before being voted on in a national referendum.

The two actors, who appeared on a panel with other human rights advocates in Washington that took place ahead of a congressional briefing titled "Constitutionalizing Authoritarianism," called for "international solidarity with Egyptians currently living under military rule."

Abu El Naga called the proposed constitutional amendments "shameful" and urged "every peace-loving human being" to stand with Egyptians "struggling against tyranny behind bars of fear and actual prison bars."