This chapter explores the intersection of human rights and national security in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, focusing on the securitisation of Islamism as a tool for authoritarian control. Both regimes have employed counterterrorism laws, emergency decrees and national security legislation to suppress political opposition, curtail civil liberties and target Islamist groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood. While both governments use security narratives to justify repression, Egypt relies on coercive measures like public executions and mass imprisonments, while Saudi Arabia uses economic and legal pressures. The chapter also examines how both states criminalise broader civil society, including human rights activists, independent media and religious institutions, violating international human rights standards. Western support for these regimes, driven by counterterrorism cooperation, further enables such abuses. By highlighting these dynamics, the chapter underscores the urgent need for international policies that prioritise human rights and democratic governance over short-term security concerns.