Egypt activists outrage at Hollywood star Helen Hunt's appearance at 'Sisi forum'

Egyptian activists have slammed Hollywood actress Helen Hunt for appearing at a forum organised by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, a man accused of a long list of human rights violations.

Campaigners sent an open letter to Hunt denouncing her participation in the World Youth Forum in Sharm el-Sheikh, backed by the Egyptian leader who is accused of mass killings, torture and disappearances.

"As you shake hands with Sisi, smile, take a photo, let history note that you chose to support a dictator responsible for thousands of deaths, arbitrary detentions and disappearances," they wrote in the letter published Monday on change.org.

They said Sisi had jailed journalists "for doing their jobs" and gays "for coming out", along with political activists and innocent people caught up in the regime's dragnet.

More than 400 websites and media outlets have also been blocked by authorities.

Over 100 people signed the letter to protest Hunt's involvement in the World Youth Forum, including human rights activists Mona Seif, Azza Soliman and Mohammed Zaree.

Around 3,000 people are expected to attend the forum that ends on Sunday.

Egypt's regime has launched a massive crackdown on all opponents since a July, 2013 coup overthrew the country's first democratically elected government.

Since then all suspected opponents of the regime have been arrested - from Muslim Brotherhood members to liberal activists - as Sisi consolidates his power over the country.

A two-time Oscar-winner and star of The Sessions, activists slammed Hunt for her participation in the forum, including speaking at the opening ceremony.

The event's slogan - "We need to talk" - has been hijacked and mocked on social media as campaigners show the world the real side of Egypt's appalling human rights record which accepts little or no criticism from youth.

"#WeNeedToTalk about Shawkan's mother who has been waiting for her imprisoned son for four years for doing his job as a journalist #FreeShawan," activist Radwa Medhat tweeted.

Photojournalist Mahmud Abu Zeid, also known as Shawkan, was arrested while covering the bloody breakup of a sit-in protest in mid-2013 that followed the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

His trial has been repeatedly postponed, including on Tuesday, when it was delayed until 14 November.

Many other young activists have been arrested, along with musicians and others.

Campaigners have also highlighted the case of Italian student Giulio Regeni whose badly tortured body was found outside the capital, with the family and many others blaming the regime for his killing.