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| Clampdown on anti-war demonstrations in Cairo against Egypt's HR Commitment | Date: 02-04-2003 |
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Clamp down on anti-war demonstrations in Cairo Against Egypt’s Human Rights Commitments The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network is deeply concerned about the Egyptian governments treatment of anti-war demonstrators and strongly condemns the excessive use of force and the detainment and torture of activists, lawyers and onlookers. During anti-war demonstration on 21 March in Cairo, police responded with excessive force, beating and arrest large numbers of people, causing many to be injured. Security forces also invaded and occupied the Lawyers' Syndicate, and subsequently arrested more than fifteen lawyers, including some who have defended anti-war demonstrators in the past. The exact number of detainees is unclear, as some are being held in communicado; however, sixty-eight detainees have been seen by a prosecutor and have been charged. The charges include "participating in an illegal assembly of more than five people" from the Illegal Assembly Law, destruction of public property, blocking traffic, transmitting propaganda that could disturb public safety and harm public interests and assaulting law enforcement personnel. However, demonstrators have alleged that the police was responsible for much of the property destruction. Seven detainees have been sent to the State Security Investigations Prosecution Office and face trial before a State Security Court[1], including two members of parliament, Hamdeen Sabahi, and Fareed Hassanayn. Detainees have reported that they have been severely beaten; some subjected to electroshock torture and subsequently denied proper medical evaluation and treatment. The EMHRN calls on the Egyptian government to: · cease immediately the use of torture against detainees, · ensure that those being held – including those in communicado – are provided proper legal protections · conduct an independent investigation into these events and ensure those responsible for these violations are brought to justice. · Lift the emergency law, which has been in place since 1981 · Ensure freedom of expression for the Egyptian people The EMHRN recalls Egypt’s commitments to respect human rights as stipulated in the Convention against Torture, the Covenant on Political and Civil Rights, as well as in the Barcelona Declaration. Recalling the ‘EU Common Strategy on the Mediterranean’ in which it is stressed that the EU will work with its Mediterranean partners to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms and Recalling article 2 of the EU-Egypt Association Agreement, which states that the relationship between the partners should be based on respect for international human rights principles; the EMHRN calls on the EU to urge the Egyptian government to respect its commitments to international human rights standard For further information please contact: Marit Floe Joergensen, Information Officer Tel: +45-32 69 89 12 / Fax: +45-32 69 89 01 E-mail: info@euromedrights.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] The verdicts of the State Security Courts cannot be appealed and can only be overturned by an order from the office of the President of the Republic, making the fairness of such verdicts highly questionable. |
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