Diaries of Torture – April 2010

On May 2, 2010

“Police treatment of citizens in Egypt is some of the best in the world. It is a far cry from what is circulated in some of the media outlets, which merely want to incite confusion on the Egyptian street.”

— Dr. Nadia Makram Ebeid
Former Minister of Environmental affairs and member of the “Police and the Egyptian People” Association

1 April

Human Rights Watch said that Egyptian border guards fired on and killed three refugees as they tried to cross the border into Israel over the course of the four preceding days, bringing the total death toll of refugees at the border so far this year to 12 people. Egyptian authorities arrested a number of refugees throughout the preceding month, one of whom is still missing. Authorities also issued a summons for two Darfuri Sudanese refugees in order to deport them, during which they were subjected to danger of imprisonment and torture, according to Human Rights Watch.
Egyptian authorities intend to deport a Sudanese refugee despite the fact that he carries a UN “Blue Card”, which obliges Egypt to recognize his official status and not deport him, and despite the presence of his wife and child and Egypt. AMERA issued a complaint to the general prosecutor and raised a lawsuit against the Minister of Interior to the State Council (Maglis al-Dawla).
A funeral was held for the victim of Dirmuas police among tight security, who refused to allow the funeral prayer: thousands of village residents of the Khizam, Azbat al-Tel and Smhan facilities gathered in the center of Dirmuas, yesterday, to hold a funeral for Fadal Abdallah Mohammed Hassanein, age 44, a peasant from Khazam village. Hassanein was killed at a police station in Dirmuas. His family says that two investigative officers and a number of intelligence personnel beat him to death. The funeral was subject to stringent security measures, with the police force finally preventing the funeral from being held for the victim. Sabry Abdallah, the victim’s brother, renewed his accusation against Mohammed Subhy, an officer with Central Security Investigations in Dirmuas, as the person responsible for his brother’s death. Sabry Abdallah pointed out that the case is not the first of its kind, and that the same officer caused the death of another citizen three months prior in “Asmu al-Arus” village. The initial autopsy confirmed that the victim died inside the Dirmuas police station booking center as a result of a sharp drop in his circulation, which caused his heart to stop.
Representative Abd al-Fattah Eid, member of the Muslim Brotherhood bloc in Parliament and head of the Menouf district, presented an emergency petition to Minister of Interior Habib al-Adly requesting an investigation of the kidnapping and torture of a student at the Faculty of Electronic Engineering in Menouf, during the university’s yearly graduation ceremony. Security personnel detained three students during the ceremony, including two who were among those graduating, in the Menouf police station. Police surprised the students immediately after the ceremony, surrounded them, and began beating them; among those attacked were female students. Eleven students were then detained. The Menouf prosecutor yesterday (Wednesday) issued an investigatory arrest warrant for the students. The investigation warrant was renewed today (Thursday), and the prosecutor presented the injured students to a forensic doctor and prepared a medical examination report as proof of their injuries. A warrant was also issued for the arrest and summons of 12 others (Al-Youm al-Saba).

2 April

Central Security remains until the end of the school day to prevent teachers from protesting. Dr. Ahmed Zaky Badr, Minister of Education, echoed his calls for transfer all of teachers at the “Al-Khulafa al-Rashideen” Primary School to “surplus” educational administration, and transfer of its director to Minya. A Central Security Officer overseeing education-related affairs went to the school yesterday, and along with several other security officers occupied the office of Abdallah al-Khouly, the school director. This came as a result of student demonstrations against the Minister and their protests against the change of the school director or his transfer to Minya (Al-Dustour).
Pharmacist Haitham Mahmoud Ahmed accused the Assistant Investigative Officer for the Shubra al-Khaima police department (Ramy A.) of stealing 15,000 Egyptian pounds, sexual enhancement medications, and cosmetics from his pharmacy; of verbal and physical attack on he and his wife; and of illegally breaking and entering their home and pharmacy without the presence of an official from the Pharmacy Investigation Department. In his complaint, which he presented to the Ministry of Interior and the Pharmacists’ and Lawyers’ Syndicates, Ahmed asserted that the Assistant Investigative Officer from the Shubra police department entered his pharmacy accompanied by other forces from the department, informed him that he wanted to investigate the pharmacy, and told him that he had obtained special permission from the prosecutor to do so. The pharmacist requested of him that he be accompanied by a pharmacy inspector, as required by law. The officer then exited for a few minutes, and returning, assailed the pharmacist and his wife with insults and took them to the pharmacist’s apartment, above the pharmacy. The officer began searching the apartment, then returned to complete the investigation. In doing so he found 21,000 Egyptian pounds in the pharmacy and 15,000 pounds in the house. He took the money and recorded the 21,000 pounds in the investigative report, but did not report the 15,000. The pharmacist added: “During the investigation, the officer assaulted my wife and I, who informed him that she was a lawyer and a member of the Lawyers’ Syndicate. He beat us, ignoring what we told him…as he opened the medicines storage space, he took it upon himself to take some cosmetics and strong sexual enhancement drugs, not recording them in his report…after assailing us with a string of insults, he returned us to the police department, opened a case against me, and unlawfully held my wife”. (Al-Youm al-Saba)

3 April

Amnesty International condemned the latest campaign of arrests of government critics and peaceful opposition groups, and encouraged the Egyptian authorities to support the rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly, ahead of demonstrations planned for April. This comes at a time of increased discontent with government policies throughout the country, along with the rising costs of retirement, decrease in salaries, and absence of protection for workers’ rights; and amid demands for political and constitutional reform
Publisher abducted and home raided for publishing a book on El Baradei.
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information strongly denounced today the Egyptian SSI raiding the house of publisher Ahmed Mahanna the director of “Dowin” for publication and distribution. Mahanna was arrested this morning due to the publication of a book titled “El Baradei And The Dream of The Green Revolution” by Kamal Gobrial. SSI raided Mahanna’s house at dawn today, searched it all upside down for copies of the book , despite that the book is in the market a week ago. Since being kidnapped, Mahanna cannot be traced so far. Nothing has been eclared about arrest reason , charges against him or whether he would be tried or not.
State security police forces break into the residence of Maha El Khadrawi, student at Ain Shams university and member of the 6th of April movement for collecting signatures in support of El Baradei. Police also threatened her mother in case she does not keep her daughter from getting involved in politics. In the same context student Tarek Khedr was kidnapped from his Alexandria university and is still kept in illegal detention at SSI headquarters. Several SSI officers led by officer known by the name of Hazem Nour el Dina paid illegal visits to the houses of several members of the movements as well as summoned Somaia Ali and Khaled El Enani, threatening them with their kidnap and the kidnap of their family members if they do not stop mobilizing for the national association for change. Several lawyers in Cairo and Alexandria have filed complaints with the public prosecutor who has not yet begun investigations.
Dr. Hend Hanafi, president of Alexandria university expresses her regret for the recent violent incidents between students and security personnel on campus. She said that she does not accept violent acts on campus nor does she accept political activism by students. She said that any students exercising political activity on campus will be punished (El Dostour)
A 12 years old child was raped by three men in El mosque. When she screamed for help a police sergeant pulled her away to a synagogue in the area where he raped her himself and then took her to the Mouski police station. The child was referred for examination to forensic medicine.

4 April

Lawyers from the association for freedom of thought and expression and the Hisham Mubarak law center seek to meet with publisher Ahmed Mehanni who is kept in solitary confinement in Amireyya police station for publishing a book about el Baradei. http://www.hmlc-egy.org/node/1419
Central security draftee who attacked director of Nadim center sentenced to two years in prison, a sentence that is less than the minimum dictated by law for the crime of theft by force. The case goes back to 2008 when Dr. Magda was aggressed by a central security draftee, Ahmed Antar, upon orders from an intelligence officer accused of torture. Dr. Magda carried pictures and blood stained clothes in her bag, evidence of the torture of the victims when she was attacked. The prosecution did not include the officer in the indictment and the crime was formulated as one of theft with force, punishable by the 3 – 7 years in prison. Dr. Magda was left with a 25% disability resulting from a triple fracture of her left shoulder.
15 days extension of detention of two members of the MB on ground of organizing solidarity activities with El Aqsa mosque.
Head of Cairo security and assistant to interior minister sent a notice to ANHRI being the legal representative of 6th April Youth, informing them of the ministry’s refusal of staging the peaceful march. The march was planned by 6th April Youth, on 6th April noon, to start from Qasr AlAini street down to parliament to deliver a message against an extension of the emergency state to MPs. The rejection by the ministry of interior read: “In the context of the current security status and regarding the consequences that may occur if such marches are allowed to stage like disturbing public security in the capital, therefore, the warned are informed of our disproval of organizing the march referring to security obligations. The warned bear full responsibility of any actions contrary to that”. http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=209
Detention of student Mohamed Ahmed Sarhan from Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University calling for participation in the 6th of April activity against an extension of the emergency state and collecting signatures in support of El Baradei. (ANHRI)
15 MB students expelled from El Azhar university on ground of their activities in support of Al Aqsa mosque. (Al Masry El Youm)
21 days extension of the detentions of 21 leaders and members of the MB. (Al Masry El Youm).

5 April

olitical groups demand that the ministry of interior not intercept the 6th of April demonstration. Coalition of 30 human rights organizations set up an emergency room for possible detentions tomorrow. (El Dostour)

6 April

Mohab Radwan, chief of police at the social service institute in Damanhour aggresses student Basma Mahmoud for refusing a search of her handbag. Student held for one and a half hours at security office, during which she was beaten and bruised and then later released upon the protest of her colleagues who gathered when they heard her screams.
6th April demonstration for a democratic constitution: Antiriot police trucks in Ramsis square and heavy security presence to disperse any gatherings.. informers in plainclothes all over Tahrir square.. Anti riot police along Ramsis street.. state security beats 20 students in Helwan university, two of whom taken to hospital.. .. By the end of the day the number of detainees reached 90 men and women. After midnight interrogations began with 33 of the demonstrations while the rest were driven by police trucks and released in remote areas at the peripheries of the capital. For detailed info regarding the arrests, the police violence and the interrogations please visit egyprotest-defense.blogspot.com

7 April

Statement by the ministry of interior concerning security measures taken on the 6th of April: A security source commenting on security measures taken on the 6th of April said that the measures were taken against elements of the so called 6th of April movement who insisted to organize demonstrations and marches to celebrate the anniversary of the movement on the 6th of April 2008 following the riots that took place in Mahalla in 2008 and were used by criminal elements to carry out acts of thuggery and violation of public and private property, which were condemned by the workers sector in Mahalla. Security measures also followed the refusal of security authorities to permit such demonstrations. Elements of the illegal 6th of April movement were informed of that refusal of which the ministry of interior informed the public prosecution, since those elements had planned gatherings and demonstrations in more than one vital location in the center of the capital and other governorates. The security source indicated that all security measures taken followed repeated warning of those elements not to gather and demonstrate in public streets. The police was also keen not to use riot dispersing measures except in cases where the protestors insisted to march and throw stones at the police resulting in the injury of 10 members of the police force. Consequently 33 leading elements had to be arrested while the rest were allowed to leave in view of their young age, etc. etc.
Ministry of Interior orders the detention of Mr. Hamdi Taha, teacher at Mostafa El Akkad boys school and free lance correspondent with several newspapers. The court had ordered the release of Mr. Taha and refused the appeal of state security prosecution. All the same a new detention order was issued.
Egyptian authorities plan to deport Darfur refugee Mohamed Adam Abdallah Yehia despite his UNHCR refugee status. Yehia was arrested on thje 4th of August 2009 and held in Egyptian prisons until he was transferred from El Khalifeh police station to be Aswan to be deported on board of the ship scheduled to leave for Sudan on the 12th of April 2010. Reasons for arrest and deportation remain unknown. Yehia is married and has a 6 years old child and was living with his mother in Cairo.
Damanhour state security intelligence continues to hold in detention in an unknown location Mohamed Medani (correspondent to Nahdet Misr in Alexandria) and Islam El Refai (program director at El Shehab center for human rights) and Sohaib Tagab (assistant to the latter) in addition to citizens Moaz Abbas El Sisi and Ahmed El Khadel, despite two court orders of release on the 1st and 4th of April. SSI refuses to disclose their whereabouts. Lawyers fail to locate them in any of the public prisons which raises concern regarding their possible exposure to torture and maltreatment.
Torture of Menuf students in the police station by intelligence officer Ahmed el Sayad and several informers and police personnel. The police used beating, kicking, slapping, hitting with iron handcuffs as well as sexual harrassmetn, where the officer sodomized each one of them with his finger while they were tied face down on the floor. (Al Karama organization for Human rights)

8 April

Arrest and torture of Islam Ahmed Sayed Ibrahim by Imbaba police officers for refusing to work as an informer (El Nadim Center)
Security authorities today attacked more than 200 citizens who had registered for a residence at the local council in the city of Damanhour, while they were protesting the increasing costs of their residential units, where an additional 50 thousand Egyptian pounds have to be paid over the agreed sum. The registration for those residential flats began 10 years ago. 10 of the protestors were arrested and taken to Damanhour state security headquarters. (Media office of the MB in Beheira governorate).
The Committee to Protect Journalists protests the continued detention of Mosad Soleiman, known online as Mosad Abu Fagr, a blogger, novelist, and activist who writes about social and political issues on his blog, Wedna N`ish (We Want to Live). Abu Fagr has been in administrative detention by order of the Ministry of Interior since February 2008, despite obtaining 18 court orders for his release.
Forced disappearance of human rights activists: Islam Refai, director of programs at El Shehab Center for Human Rights and Sohaib Ragab, his assistant in addition to the arrest of Mohamed Medani, correspondent to Nahdet Misr newspaper and Ahmed El Khadal and Moath Abbas. The activists were kidnapped on the 1st and 4th of April and their whereabouts remain unknown.

9 April

Front for the defense of Egyptian demonstrators files a complaint with the public prosecutor against a number of ministry of interior officials concerning the illegal detention of a number of 6th April activists still illegally detained at the SSI headquarters in 6th of October and Osim.
Human Rights Watch says that Egyptian authorities should immediately stop procedures of deportation of two asylum seekers from Darfur. The deportation of Mohamed Adam Abdallah and Ishaq Fadl to Sudan may result in their persecution. Both have received refugee status from UNHCR, which is entitled to protect them against deportation.

11 April

Chief of intelligence sexually assaults ten citizens in favor of a businessman who wants to buy their land to build a shopping mall. The incident took place in Menia, Upper Egypt, and is being investigated by the public prosecutor. (El Masry el Yom)
Students of the faculty of medicine, Suez canal university protest in front of the dean’s office the aggression by security forces against their final year colleague Ahmed Galal. Galal was arrested from the gynecology department where he was doing his clinical round. He was beaten in front of his colleagues and patents and dragged along the asphalt to the security office at the faculty.
Security forces ban a number of woman activists from organizing a protest rally in front of the Kuwait embassy and submitting a memo to the ambassador protesting the detention of 33 Egyptians in Kuwait because of their support of Mohamed el Baradei. All streets leading to the embassy in Dokki were blocked by security forces. (El Masry El Yom)

12 April

A housewife from El Masara files a complaint to the public prosecutor accusing Dar El Salam police intelligence of torturing and sexually molesting her in addition to stealing her jewelry. In her complaint she said that about 20 armed people broke into her house and bedroom at 3 a.m. They beat her and threw her face down on the ground asking her to give them the narcotics her husband is keeping in the house. When she denied knowing anything about that they threatened to sexually assault her, stripped her totally naked in front of her children and when her youngest started screaming they violently pushed her against the wall. After searching the house and not finding any narcotics they stole her golden bracelets as well as all the money that was in the house. The case is being investigated by the Cairo south prosecution.
Security authorities in Menufeyya arrested 23 students belonging to the MB who were organizing an event in solidarity with El Aqsa mosque in Palestine. Seven of the students were badly injured and taken to hospital by their colleagues after the campus police refused to allow an ambulance on campus. (AFTE, El Masry El Youm)
State security prosecution orders a 4 day extension of the detention of students.
Local council members of the city of Rafah today agreed to specify an area to build a special graveyard for African migrants of unknown identity who are killed by the Egyptian police while trying to cross into Israel. The decision comes at a time of increasing numbers of migrants who are either killed or injured by Egyptian border police, who are then taken to the hospitals of Rafah, El Sheikh Zowayed and El Arish where they are kept for 90 days waiting to be identified by African consulates in Cairo. Citizens in North Sinai had objected to the burial of African bodies in Muslim graveyards since they do not know their religions. They argued that Islamic jurisprudence does not allow th e burial of non Muslims in Muslim graveyards. (El Shorouk)

13 April

Heavy police presence in front of the court house. Severe police violence against participants in the Kefaya rally protesting police violations on the 6th of April. Police aggresses Dr. Ayman Nour and Karima El Hefnawi. (Kefaya)
Four arrested and taken away in a taxi (Cairo 379). MP Dr. Mohamed El Betlagi and Janette Abdel Alim beaten.
Egyptian security forces present in front of the court house physically aggress the Kefaya rally. Bahaa saber and Sayed Ragab beaten and kidnapped. Bahaa dragged along the street and stripped in the middle of the street. Lawyers try to file a complaint to the public prosecutor but are prevented by the police. The whole area was cordoned by the police.
Activist Bahaa Saber kidnapped from in front of the court house, taken to Boulaq Abu El Ela police station where he is tortured and sodomized before returning him to the Azbakeyya prosecution for interrogation.
Police officer shoots Mostafa Saadawi Mohamed, 9th grade student, 15 years old, in the back causing paralysis. Hospital unable to remove bullet which hit the child’s spinal cord. The victim as stopped on his way home from a private lesson by a police officer who suspected him for smuggling. When the child told him that all he had on him were his lunch sandwiches the officer started to beat him, upon which the child panicked and ran away, which is when he got shot in the back. http://youm7.com/News.asp?NewsID=211413&SecID=163&IssueID=107

14 April

Azbakeyya prosecution orders a 15 days extension of detention for activist Bahaa Saber, refuses to refer him to forensic examination and refuses an appeal of its decision. Lawyers manage to get the appeal order and the referral from the office of the public prosecutor.
The prosecution orders the release of 10 detained students. Four were released and a detention order was issued for the remaining six who were transferred to Wadi El Naroun prison.
Chief of intelligence at Gharabeneyat prison aggressed lawyer Mahmoud El Esawi and prevents him from visiting his client despite the latter’s possession of a visit permit from the ministry of interior. Other family members carrying permits were pushed away and denied visits. (Ikhwan Online)
Assiut–State Security forces arrested 20 members of the Al-Ahmadiya Sufi order while the latter were meeting at the home of a colleague in the village of Derenka. Among those arrested were seven members of the ruling National Democratic Party. All were taken to Assiut State Security headquarters. Police sources said that State Security was pursuing extensive investigations of the political inclinations of certain Sufi orders. (El Masry El Youm – Arabic edition)

15 April

North Cairo court decides to release activits Bahaa Saber on a 5000 LE bail. (El Dostour)
Medical examination of Bahaa Saber after his release shows subconjunctival hemorrhage in addition to several bruises in different parts of his body.
Detention of 16 students in Shebin el Kom for 4 days. Anoehr student detained yesterday gets an extension of 15 days (AFTE)
Security authorities in Menufeyya refuse to release 16 MB students despite court order of their release. The students are kept in Shebin El Kom police station. (Ikhwan Online)
An Eritrean asylum seeker, 42 years old, was shot today by Egyptian police while trying to cross into Israel. 5 other asylum seekers were arrested the following hours according to a security and a medical source (MigrantRights)

17 April

MP Dr. Hamdi Hassan holds the minister of interior responsible of the disappearance of Tarek Mohamed Mahmoud Khedr, student at the faculty of science, Alexandria university, who ahs been kidnapped from his faculty on Saturday the 27th of March by state security officers on campus. His whereabouts remain unknown. Khedr was last seen distributing a statement by the national association for change calling for amendment of the constitution and public liberties.
Fifty families from Nour Street in Manshyet Nasser refused to leave their homes for the fifth consecutive day with hopes of preventing the district council from demolishing their homes. The district council said it is demolishing these homes because of the alleged spread of “random building and favoritism.” The residents have received letters granting them alternative housing units in Madinet el-Salam. Electricity and water were recently cut as well. Mostafa Ebada, head of the Manshiyet Nasser District Council reportedly decided to demolish the homes after a technical report suggested the homes be evacuated due to safety concerns. However, according to Karim Hamdi, a local resident, the district council did not give the residents letters for alternative housing units because their national identity cards did not state that they lived in Manshiyet Nasser. Their contracts date back to the time of President Sadat, Hamdi added. Mohsen Mahmoud, another resident, said more than 50 families had tied their children up in their homes to express their anger at the demolition orders. He also said district council officials have been insulting and mistreating residents.
Parliament refuses a request submitted by more than 20 MPs to discuss the report issued by the national council for human rights. MPs said that the new report includes serious allegations that the government takes citizens as hostages and that one of those hostages was 2 months old. (Ikhwan Online)

18 April

The third defendant in the Zeitoun cell case claims having confessed wrong information under torture by officer Ahmed Hegazi.
Ruling party MPs, Qassas, Hemeida and Abu Aqrab demand that demonstrators be shot. During a parliamentary discussion of the events of the 6th of April and the police violations on that day Hamdin Sabahi accused the ministry of interior of using excessive violence with peaceful demonstrators. He called for an official investigation regarding the police conduct, upon which Qassas said those are nothing but a bunch of thugs asking the ministry of interior to strike with a hand of iron against anybody who tries to disrupt public order. He also called upon the minister of social solidarity to investigate the funding of the Arab network for human rights info. He added if I am to question the minister of interior I would do so because of his excessive lenience in dealing with breakers of the law. “You don’t like anything.”You don’t want policemen to search women, you do not like police women”. He insisted that demonstrators should be shot by live bullets and not by water cannons. They deserve the bullets, he said. Ragab Hemeida refused to accept that the 6th of April youth were demanding freedom. He said that most of them are funded by abroad. He added: I don’t mind shooting them to protect million of Egyptians.
The second court session for the Zeitoun cell case witnessed a heave security presence today, probably because of the attendance of 13 state security police officers as witnesses. The security presence extended inside and outside the court house, both in uniform and plainclothes. The lawyers protested that they have not been allowed to visit their clients and demanded to be given time for that before the session, which the judge permitted to take place in his chambers and in his presence. The defendants asked the judge whether they would find justice in court or whether things would be similar to what happened at the prosecution, in which case they have nothing to say and the court can take whatever decision it wants.

During the consultations with the clients the lawyers noticed the absence of Mohamed Fahim the first defendant accused of the leadership of the organization. He was then brought surrounded by more than 10 security men in front of the judge to testify that he never planned any terrorist actions in Egypt but that he found out that his colleagues did. According to the prosecution Fahim had in his prison asked to meet with the chief of police and gave this confession which he signed in writing. The lawyers protested the questioning of Fahim in the midst of that security presence and drew the attention of the judge that Fahim appeared “absent and confused” and was kept by the police in a separate room away from his lawyers.

A mobile shop owner in El Haram district accuses intelligence officers of El Omraneyya police station of torturing him for five whole hours in his own shop. In his complaint to the Omrenayya prosecution Ahmed Abdel Qader said that three men broke into his shop at 1 a.m. and hit him five times on the head then dragged him outside his shop, stripped him naked and sexually harassed him. They then brought a microbus to arrest him and when bystanders tried to intervene one of them pulled out his pistol and screamed: we are police. They then took Ahmed to Omranya police station where the torture continued until 6 a.m. without giving any reason for his arrest. The Omrenayya police station refused neither to file the complaint against the intelligence officer nor to register the damage done to my shop despite the obvious injuries on his face, head and the cut wound in his lips which was documented later in a medical report that was annexed to his complaint to the prosecution. He also reported the theft of 5000 telephone cards from his shop (El Dostour)

19 April

Lawyer Hamdi El Assiuty, secretary general of the liberties committee in the Tagammu party today submitted a complaint to the public prosecutor accusing three ruling party MPs of inciting the police to commit murder and terrorize the public by calling for the shooting of demonstrators of the 6th of April movement.
Once again, state security kidnaps Mohamed Awad, Kefaya activist from El giza metro station. Awad was released only 3 days ago after spending 10 days in detention. His captures wore plainclothes and showed no legal document to justify his arrest. His whereabouts are not known.
For the third time security forces attack Damanhour citizens demanding their right to housing. The attack led by officer Amir el Saadani involved severe beating and kicking of tens of citizens who had applied to low cost housing during their gathering in front of the local council of the city of Damanhour. The named officer slapped Hala Mohamed, pulled her veil off her head and verbally abused her with obscenities. He eventually managed to grab her handbag and take her ID threatening that she will never come near to any of the residential flats. He shouted: I shall make you an example for others.
Supreme emergency state security criminal court postponed the trial of the Zeitoun case in order to refer 13 of the defendants to forensic medicine to be examined by a tripartite committee from the forensic medicine authority, on condition that they do not include the physician who examined the defendants during the interrogations carried out by state security prosecution. The defendants claimed that they have been subjected to torture to confess to acts and crimes they did not commit. The court also ordered to investigate the claim by defendant Mohamed Khamis that he had signed in at work on the same day he allegedly committed the murder of the owner of a jewelry shop. The court also demanded the registry of the Istiqbal Tora prison where state security claims the defendants were held since their arrest.

20 April

General Hamed Rashed, first assistant to the minister of interior commented on the 6th of April movement demonstrations that the law grants security forces the right to shoot at demonstrators if they breach order and endanger security. He said: I call for the use of the law instead of violence. MP Hemeida added that the right to demonstrate has been granted by the constitution and the law, but within specific limits and if the ministry of interior does not agree then everybody should abide by the law. Al Qassas insisted that the 6th of April movement was illegitimate. In a TV talk show he said on the same day that he supports the extension of the emergency state for another 100 years.
6th of April movement calls on all political groups to participate in a peaceful protest rally in front of parliament today at 12 noon to protest the call by ruling party MPs to shoot at peaceful demonstrators. Since the early morning hours observers noted a heavy security presence in Tahrir square and Kasr El Aini street, including the Karate groups. Workers in their sit in around parliament have been surrounded by a thick security siege to prevent them from joining the youth protest.
Al Karama organization expresses deep concern regarding the irresponsible statements by some ruling party MPs while discussing clashes between the police and demonstrators on the 6thof April. Al Karama considers those statements to amount to an incitement to murder and calls upon Egyptian officials to investigate those statements and bring the offenders to justice as well as investigate the widespread acts of violence and detention that affected more tan 90 persons on the 6th of April. It also reminded the Egyptian government of its commitments during the UPR in February 2010. It also stated that it will bring this case to the attention to the special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings and the special rapporteur on human rights defenders.
Amnesty international condemns comments by an Egyptian MP member of the ruling party inciting the police to shoot at protesters calling for political reform over several weeks. Amnesty said that the MP should immediately withdraw his comments so as not to give a pretext the security forces known for their records of violations. Parliament should demand an investigations instead of complicity with brutality.
Dr. Ismail Yucef, faculty member of Suez Canal University and one of the leaders of the 9th of March movement for the independence of the universities condemns the police aggression against student Ahmed Galal at Suez canal university hospital, in front of the patients in the gynecology department. Yucef described the incident as a “scandal” and demanded an urgent investigation and that security authorities should not be on campus.
El Arish 2nd police station refuses to file a complaint by the Popular committee for citizens rights against MP Nashat Qasas for his recent statements that demonstrators should be shot by the police. The rejection came upon the orders of a state security officer.
An African man was killed and two others injured while they were trying to cross international borders to the south of Rafah port and Karam Salem crossing in the north of Sinai. Security forces were guarding international borders between Egypt and the Gaza strip on the one hand and Egypt and Israel on the other. They saw several people trying to cross to Israel via the international borders at checkpoint 14. Security forces say they warned the trespassers, and yet they continued to attempt crossing the border. Security forces then “dealt” with the situation resulting in the killing of Tsefa Lanol Soha (Eritrean, 31 years old) and the injury of Zinadi Takhali (Eritrean, 22 years) and Adam Mohamed Adam (Sudanese, 26 years). The body was then taken to the Rafah Central Hospital and the injured were taken to El Arish general hospital.
Nashat El Qassas, ruling party MP, denies that he asked the police to shoot at demonstrators who violate public order. He explained that his statement was misinterpreted and that as an elected MP he cannot demand the punishment of the people by shooting them. He added: “I demanded that the police be entitled to use the right to self defense, even if it takes shooting protestors who attack them, so that we are not faced one day with a murdered policeman.” (El Shorouk)
Prof. Abdel Gelil Mostafa, Prof. Ahmed Darag, Mr. Ahmed Bahaa Shaban, Mr. Geroge Ishaq and Mr. Mohamed Adel file a complaint to the public prosecutor against Hassan Nashat El Qasas and Mr. Ahmed Abu Aqrab in their personal capacity and as MPs for the ruling party requesting a lifting of their parliamentary impunity and pressing criminal charges for their incitement of crimes of murder and slander of the youth and leadership of the Egyptian opposition demanding democratic and constitutional reform.
Human rights organizations warn the ministry of interior from responding to the calls of ruling party MPs to use violence against demonstrators.
The women’s group for human rights strongly rejects the threatening language used by parliamentarians and expresses its refusal of the rationale put forward by the ministry of interior regarding the use of violence against demonstrators. It also protests the extent of the threat to shoot at demonstrators, claiming that the law permits the ministry of interior to do so, drawing attention that this law dates back to the times when Egypt was under British occupation. It also added that the use of violence against peaceful protests is a breach of the law and a crime condemned by international human rights conventions, the principles of the international declaration of human rights and the convention of civil and political rights and other agreements and conventions endorsed by the Egyptian government.
ANHRI condemned today the incitement by ruling party MPs of the ministry of interior to shoot at demonstrators demanding democracy reform in Egypt, in addition to their clear incitement against the Arab Network of Human Rights Information and accusing the 6th of April movement of being an offshoot of the human rights organization, adding that it has received funding to incite the demonstration.

21 April

In a new escalation of violence, state security forces launched a new attack on community leaders and activists in the governorate of Menufeyya which resulted in the detention of 8 individuals because of their support of the aggressed students in Menufeyya University. Several activists had been previously threatened because of their attempt to organize a human righs conference to support the students and their right to freedom of expression. The detentions took place in the early hours of today and involved: Engineer Badr Abdel Aziz El Falah, Dr. Osama Ebeid, Professor of radiology, Faculty of Medicine, El Menufeyya University, Engineer Saad Abul Enein, Dr. Ahmed Shawki Ammar, Professor of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, El Menufeyya University, Dr. Ibrahim El Shestawi, Professor of Engineering, El Menufeyya University, Engineer Mohamed Mahdy, Mr. Shebl El Shetwi, lawyer, Atef Mohamed Abdel LAtif, government employee (Enough Torture)
A security official announces that the law entitled the police to use live ammunition to disperse “forbidden” demonstrations. He was commenting on the media coverage of the demands of a few MPs to use live bullets against demonstrators. According to the Middle East News Agency the source from the minister of interior said that the media coverage was not accurate. He said that it is the right of the police to use force to disperse banned demonstrations based on the law which states that “a police officer has the right to use the necessary force to carry out his duty if this is the only way to achieve that. He specified three cases, where bullets can be used, the third of which is “a dispersion of gathering or demonstrations if they expose public security to danger, and that after warning the demonstrators to disperse according to the specified regulations.”
In an attempt to contain the wave of criticism because of his declaration in parliament that demonstrators should be shot, the ruling party MP today explained that he meant “that those who break the law should be shot”!!

22 April

Public prosecutor refers five members of the MB to the supreme emergency state security criminal court after being accused by state security prosecution of money laundering and financing the banned group with the aim of obstructing state institutions. The case is known as the “international organization of the MB”
Arrest of two members of El Ghad party, Mohamed Abdel Aziz Othman and Nassef Salama, because of posters supporting Ayman Nour, Mohamed El Baradei and Hamdin Sabahi. While Salama was released after a few hours in state security custody, Othman was kept to be questioned by the prosecution regarding his organization of a poster campaign>
Tens of members of the 9th of March movement for the independence of the university organized a protest rally in front of the ministry of higher education today against the security assaults against students, carrying banners that condemned the complicity of the university administration with security authorities. Their banners mentioned the kidnap of student Mohamed Khedr, who was kidnapped by state security from the faculty of science, Alexandria University; as well as condemned the police aggression on campus. They held university administrations responsible for the injury of students (more than 23 students) and the kidnap and detention of more than 29 students from different faculties>
Syrian national Husam Radhwan el-Mar’i was arrested at Cairo International Airport on 12 April 2010. He has been held incommunicado since then, and his whereabouts are unknown. He is believed to be in the custody of the State Security Investigations (SSI). Detainees held by the SSI are at risk of torture, especially when they are held incommunicado and at undisclosed locations. Soon after his arrival at Cairo airport at 1pm on 12 April 2010, Husam Radhwan el-Mar’i telephoned a relative and said he was being held by Egyptian State Security. The call was then abruptly cut off, and his family have since had no news about him. It is not known why he was arrested. (Amnesty International)
Mamdouh Ismail, lawyer in El Zeitoun cell case said that security authorities control the trial, referring to tens of security personnel who are everywhere in the court room. They prevent the lawyers from speaking to their clients behind bars. He added that this control was most evident today when one police officer, while standing behind the judges’ bench, gestured to a witness that he would slaughter him, a gesture which resulted in an outburst of anger of the families and the lawyers alike. In addition tens of family members of the defendants were arrested by the police for no reason. The lawyer added that what happened in this court case is unprecedented. He also accused one of the judges of asking leading questions to the witnesses (El Youm El Sabee)
Security authorities prevent the organization of a public meeting which Hamdin Sabahi, MP and possible presidential candidate had organized in the Bar Association in Banha. No reason was given for the cancellation. A member of Hamdin’s campaign said that he was warned by the security that in case they hold the conference despite the refusal, members of his campaign and organizers of the conference will be detained (El Masry El Youm)
In defiance of court orders, the minister of interior issues a detention order of Saber Ayad, MB in Baltim, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate despite the decision of his release by the criminal court of Kafr El Sheikh in view of lack of grounds for his incarceration. Mr. Saber had been kidnapped from his office two years ago allegedly because of a complaint related to the local council elections in 2007.
The family of Sheikh Mostafa Mohamed Ibrahim Abdel Megid a MB from Ezbet Tousson held the ministry of interior responsible for the health and life of Sheikh Mostafa whose health has markedly deteriorated in prison. His lawyer, Moharam Okba, says that he has submitted a complaint to the prosecution regarding the Sheikh’s health condition who suffers attacks of difficulty breathing, cyanosis of his peripheries as well as repeated spells of loss of consciousness as a result of cardiovascular insufficiency.
Public Prosecutor orders the referral of Dr. Ashraf Abdel Ghaffar, secretary general of the doctors syndicate, Wagdi Abdel Hamid Ghoneim, Islamic advocate, Award Mohamed El Qorani, Saudi nationality, Osama Mohamed Soliman, chair of the board of EL Sarafa exchange company and Ibrahim Mounir Mostafa to supreme emergency state security court in violation of their right to be tried in front of a natural judge as stipulated by the constitution and human rights conventions.

24 April

A taxi driver suffers torture because he urged the traffic officer to return his license so that he can catch his appointment with his employer whom he had to drive to the airport. The driver was beaten, suspended and electrocuted in his chest and testicles (Nadim Center)
Human Rights Watch calls upon Egyptian authorities to immediately release blogger Hani Nazir arbitrarily detained since October 2008 according to emergency law enforced in Egypt for decades. Despite a court order of his release on the 3rd of April 2010 the ministry of interior renewed his detention order for the 6th time over a period of 19 months. Emergency law permits administrative detention without charge. The only reason for his detention forwarded by the Egyptian government was because of his blog where he is critical of a book on Islam, the cover of which is perceived by some to be insulting to Islam. The ministry of interior claims that Hani is detained for his own protection.
State security holds three students in the security office of the Faculty of Art for their participation in a student’s activity regarding constitutional change. After attempting to ban the wall journal exhibition a police force attacked the exhibition and confiscated all the journals and held three students for two hours in the security office. Their ID cards were withdrawn and the vice dean of the faculty threatened them that they would fail in at least one subject at the end of term exam (Ain Shams Students)

25 April

Arrest of Amr El Masry after a visit to his father, former local council nominee for the MB and presently detained. The prosecution ordered that the detention of Amr El Masry be extended for 15 days. (Ikhwan Online)
Family of Mosaad Tawfik El Shafei MB member in Madinet Nasr appeals to the president of the republic, the minister of justice, the public prosecutor regarding the arrest and forced disappearance of Mosaad since the 19th of April, when SSI authorities broke into his house and took him after causing much disruption in his residence and terrorizing his children. Since then he was not summoned to any judicial body, nor does the family know anything regarding his whereabouts. (Ikhwan Online)
MB prisoners held at Wadi El Natroun 2 prison (150 in total) organized a protest yesterday when the prison administration prohibited them from receiving food brought by their families. The prisoners threatened to begin a hunger strike to reverse this illegal procedure, realizing that the decision aimed at forcing them to use the prison canteen. The administration withdrew its ban. (Ikhwan Online)

28 April

Supreme emergency state security court issues prison sentences against defendants in the so-called Hezbollah case ranging between 6 months and live imprisonment. Not only were the defendants tried in front of an exceptional court, but the defendants have more than once declared that they have been subjected to severe torture and that the confessions were withdrawn under duress.
Arab Network for Human Rights Info today said the minister of interior should immediately order its his officers to stop their sadistic and humiliating treatment of blogger Karim Amer, prisoner in Borg El Arab prison. Officers broke into his cell and confiscated his papers, and journal as well as some private letters, which they tore in front of him without giving any reason for their conduct. According to ANHRI Karim Amer was deprived of the right to a fair trial. The ministry refused his release after doing 3/4 his term, like other prisoners. He was deprived of visits and the prosecution has ignored complaints submitted regarding his maltreatment by security and prison authorities.
Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) today organizes a press conference in collaboration with a number of human rights organizations to issue a report on security and administrative harassment in Egyptian universities extending from the 24th of February to the 23rd of April. The report reviews the escalation of security violence against students and involves 6 universities: Alexandria, EL Menufeyya, Al Azhar, Zagazig, El Fayoum and Ain Shams. The report also provides evidence for the close collaboration between the university administration and security authorities which involves the recruitment of thugs to aggress student activists. The press conference also announces the launch of the campaign in defense of Egyptian students.

29 April

The court of economic crimes holds its session of appeal today to review the 6 months prison sentence against known blogger Wael Abbas. It is the same case for which the blogger was acquitted last February. The case has been fabricated against Abbas by a citizen and his brother a police officer.
Committee for Defense of Journalists issues a statement condemning the security harassment of blogger Karim Amer sentenced to four years in prison because of his writings on his blog.
Amnesty International calls for a retrial by a regular court of 26 men jailed by an Egyptian emergency court for their alleged links to the Lebanese group, Hizbullah amid allegations of torture. The special court sentenced the men – who included Lebanese, Palestinians, Egyptians and one Sudanese – to jail terms ranging from six months to life. Their conviction was based on “confessions” which the defendants say were obtained under torture. “These men should be retried by an ordinary court which gives them a chance of getting a fair trial,” said Amnesty International. “Bypassing justice by referring sensitive cases to emergency courts undermines the criminal justice system and encourages human rights abuses.”

30 April

Amnesty International urges the Egyptian authorities to lift restrictions on the creation and functioning of independent workers’ unions, and to set up a system which guarantees an adequate minimum wage. The call comes ahead of International Workers’ Day on 1 May and planned strikes by Egyptian workers on 2 May.