Egypt arrests and tortures anti-war activists
Al-Nadim Centre | 15.06.2003 23:10
1- Report by Al-Nadim centre team on an anti-war student's testimony
2- Amnesty International on arrest and TORTURE of anti-war activists
AL-NADEEM CENTRE FOR THE VICTIMS OF TORTURE, CAIRO
TORTURE OF ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS IN EGYPT
TESTIMONY OF A UNIVERSITY STUDENT
"While he was beating me he threatened to close down the printing workshop of my father, arrest my mother and sisters and that he could expel me from university"-- Amr Mohamed Abdel-Latif, 21
Stomping the bodies of detainees at the State Security Intelligence, Lazoughli
We have personally met with Amr Mohamed Abdel Latif, 21 years old, a student in the third year Faculty of commerce, Cairo University. He told us that he had been kidnapped on Saturday the 12th of April from Abdel Khalequ Tharwat street in down town Cairo, and was released yesterday evening, Tuesday, 15th of April 2003. We listened to his story regarding the events of the past three days. He states the following:
"I was arrested from behind the Bar Association in Abdel Khalek Tharwat Street. We were on our way out of the Bar association, heading for the Press Syndicate. I was accompanied by Walid Abdel Razek and Mahmoud Hassan Hassan. It was about 12 o'clock noon. We were attacked by around 8 people. I am not sure of the exact number. Each one of us was held back by three of them. I would recognize them if I saw them because I saw one of them today (Tuesday 15th of April) in front of the Press syndicate.
"They dragged us in the street and tried to force us into the nearby Pfizer Company office but their security guards refused. Then they took us to the transfer vans of the Central Security soldiers and left us in the car for about 2 hours under guard. The van then moved towards the Lazoughli building (headquarters of the State Security Intelligence). At the door of Lazoughli, they asked us to blindfold ourselves with our under shirts, i.e. lifting them to cover our faces, covering our eyes with our hands. If I had refused they would have beaten me. Inside, they took our belongings and put us in a cell in the first floor. There we remained until 9.30 p.m. They then took us out, blindfolded us themselves, took us to the second floor and started the interrogations. They interrogated us one by one in a separate room.
"The first thing they did was ask me to take off my clothes and bare my upper body. My chest and abdomen were bare. He (the interrogator) started asking me to confess that Mahmoud had called me and invited me to participate in the sit in. He asked me about the name of the person who convinced Mahmoud to join (the opposotion left-wing) Tagamuu party and fill a membership format. Once I denied my knowledge of any of that information they started the beating. They were more than three people beating me. One from behind and the others from the front. It seemed as if each of them was focusing on particular parts of the body. One of them was stomping me on the abdomen and testicles. The AC was very, terribly cold. We were shivering from the cold. The beating lasted for about an hour
"then they took us down again at about 2.30 and they would take us up again one by one. They did not take me again except today (Tuesday). I am especially worried about one particular person because he was taken by them very frequently. His name is Ramez Jihad. He told us that they are torturing him in all parts of his body using electricity, suspension and beating. The officer would return him to our cell and say that we should not give him any water to drink because his body was full of electricity.
"Today (Tuesday) they took me again in a different room, to the right side I could identify Walid El Dessouki from his voice and the way he talks. He actually started to ask me about everything about politics: my friends at university, demonstrations, the reason I went to Hisham Mubarak Law Center. He did not give me a chance to reply to him. He was beating me all the time and was stomping with his shoes on my testicles.
While he was beating me he threatened to close down the printing workshop of my father, to arrest my mother and sisters and that he could expel me from university. At the same time he offered to help me in university if I collaborated with him and he gave me a small piece of paper with his phone numbers.
"Right now I feel that I cannot bend my back. I am in great pain in my lower body and walk with difficulty. It is horrible pain. I cannot take it."
We have examined Amr Abdel Latif and confirmed testicular congestion, contusions and bruises in the back muscles and the muscles on the front of the left thigh. We also found mild bruises secondary to slaps on the face. We have referred him to do an unltrasonography on both testicles.
El Nadim Center (Dr. Suzan Fayad, Dr. Abdallah Mansour, Dr. Aida Seif El Dawla, Dr. Magda Adly) - Cairo 15th April 2003
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 12/019/2003
UA 104/03 Fear of torture or ill-treatment/ Incommunicado detention 16 April 2003
EGYPT Mahmud Hassan Hassan (m)
Ramiz Gihad (m)
Ibrahim al-Sahari (m), journalist
Wa'el Tawfiq (m)
Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of four anti war activists who were detained between 12 and 13 April in the capital Cairo. Their exact whereabouts are unconfirmed, but they are reportedly being held incommunicado at the State Security Intelligence (SSI) headquarters at Lazoghly Square, where all four were reportedly subjected to torture or ill-treatment.
Mahmud Hassan Hassan was detained at an anti-war demonstration in front of the Egyptian Journalists' Union in the centre of Cairo on 12 April. Ramiz Gihad was detained at a nearby café on the same day. Both are believed to be held incommunicado at the SSI headquarters at Lazoghly Square, following the testimony of a released detainee who was held with them. Mahmud Hassan Tawfiq and Ramiz Gihad were reportedly severely beaten at the SSI headquarters. Ramiz Gihad was reportedly also subjected to electric shocks.
Ibrahim al-Sahari, a journalist and anti-war activist, was detained on 13 April at his home in Cairo by security officers who did not produce a warrant of arrest. He was reportedly taken to the SSI headquarters at Lazoghly Square, where he has allegedly been beaten. In February, Ibrahim al-Sahari was previously detained at the SSI headquarters in Cairo, during which time he was reportedly ill-treated.
Anti-war activist, Wa'el Tawfiq was reportedly detained in Cairo on 13 April. He is also reportedly held at the SSI headquarters, where he was allegedly beaten. He was previously detained in January 2002 during the Cairo International Book Fair. He was taken to the SSI headquarters, where he was allegedly tortured. A medical examination conducted by experts from the Cairo based Nadim Centre for the Management and Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence found evidence consistent with his torture allegations.
BACKGROUND
Since 20 March 2003, hundreds of anti-war activists have been detained in Egypt. Several detainees were reportedly tortured or ill-treated whilst held in detention, including at State Security Intelligence (SSI) branches. While most of the detainees have been released, several continue to be held in detention.
Torture of political detainees is common in Egypt, in SSI branches, police stations and occasionally prisons. The most common methods of torture reported are: electric shocks, beatings, suspension by the wrists or ankles, burning with cigarettes, and various forms of psychological torture, including death threats and threats of rape or sexual abuse of the detainee or their female relatives.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Arabic, English or your own language:
- expressing concern that Mahmud Hassan Hassan, Ramiz Gihad, Ibrahim al-Sahari and Wa'el Tawfiq are reportedly held in incommunicado detention;
- urging the authorities to reveal exactly where they are being held, and give them access to lawyers, relatives and any medical attention they may require;
- expressing concern at reports that anti-war activists, including Mahmud Hassan Hassan, Ramiz Gihad, Ibrahim al-Sahari and Wa'el Tawfiq were reportedly tortured or ill-treated in State Security Intelligence (SSI) detention;
- calling for an immediate and impartial investigation into the allegations of torture or ill-treatment, for the results to be made public and for those responsible to be brought to justice;
- calling on the authorities to provide a guarantee that detainees will not be tortured or ill-treated in detention;
- calling on the authorities to guarantee that no one should be held in custody or charged solely on the basis of exercising his or her right to freedom of expression.
APPEALS TO:
His Excellency Mohammad Hosni Mubarak
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
'Abedine Palace, Cairo, Egypt
Telegram: President Mubarak, Cairo, Egypt
E-mail:
webmaster@presidency.gov.eg
Fax: + 202 390 1998
Telex: 93794 WAZRA UN
Salutation: Your Excellency
His Excellency General Habib al-Adeli
Minister of the Interior
Ministry of the Interior
Al-Sheikh Rihan Street
Bab al-Louk, Cairo, Egypt
Telegram: Minister of Interior, Cairo, Egypt
E-mail: moi@idsc.gov.eg
Fax: + 202 579 2031
Salutation: Dear Minister
His Excellency Mr Faruq Sayf al-Nasr
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
Midan Lazoghly, Cairo, Egypt
Telegrams: Minister of Justice, Cairo, Egypt
E-mail: mojeb@idsc.gov.eg
Fax: + 202 795 8103
Salutation: Dear Minister
Counsellor Maher 'Abd al-Wahid
Public Prosecutor
Dar al-Qadha al-'Ali
Ramses Street, Cairo, Egypt
Telegrams: Public Prosecutor, Cairo, Egypt
Fax: + 202 577 4716
Salutation: Dear Public Prosecutor
COPIES TO: Diplomatic representatives of Egypt accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 28 May 2003.
2- Amnesty International on arrest and TORTURE of anti-war activists
AL-NADEEM CENTRE FOR THE VICTIMS OF TORTURE, CAIRO
TORTURE OF ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS IN EGYPT
TESTIMONY OF A UNIVERSITY STUDENT
"While he was beating me he threatened to close down the printing workshop of my father, arrest my mother and sisters and that he could expel me from university"-- Amr Mohamed Abdel-Latif, 21
Stomping the bodies of detainees at the State Security Intelligence, Lazoughli
We have personally met with Amr Mohamed Abdel Latif, 21 years old, a student in the third year Faculty of commerce, Cairo University. He told us that he had been kidnapped on Saturday the 12th of April from Abdel Khalequ Tharwat street in down town Cairo, and was released yesterday evening, Tuesday, 15th of April 2003. We listened to his story regarding the events of the past three days. He states the following:
"I was arrested from behind the Bar Association in Abdel Khalek Tharwat Street. We were on our way out of the Bar association, heading for the Press Syndicate. I was accompanied by Walid Abdel Razek and Mahmoud Hassan Hassan. It was about 12 o'clock noon. We were attacked by around 8 people. I am not sure of the exact number. Each one of us was held back by three of them. I would recognize them if I saw them because I saw one of them today (Tuesday 15th of April) in front of the Press syndicate.
"They dragged us in the street and tried to force us into the nearby Pfizer Company office but their security guards refused. Then they took us to the transfer vans of the Central Security soldiers and left us in the car for about 2 hours under guard. The van then moved towards the Lazoughli building (headquarters of the State Security Intelligence). At the door of Lazoughli, they asked us to blindfold ourselves with our under shirts, i.e. lifting them to cover our faces, covering our eyes with our hands. If I had refused they would have beaten me. Inside, they took our belongings and put us in a cell in the first floor. There we remained until 9.30 p.m. They then took us out, blindfolded us themselves, took us to the second floor and started the interrogations. They interrogated us one by one in a separate room.
"The first thing they did was ask me to take off my clothes and bare my upper body. My chest and abdomen were bare. He (the interrogator) started asking me to confess that Mahmoud had called me and invited me to participate in the sit in. He asked me about the name of the person who convinced Mahmoud to join (the opposotion left-wing) Tagamuu party and fill a membership format. Once I denied my knowledge of any of that information they started the beating. They were more than three people beating me. One from behind and the others from the front. It seemed as if each of them was focusing on particular parts of the body. One of them was stomping me on the abdomen and testicles. The AC was very, terribly cold. We were shivering from the cold. The beating lasted for about an hour
"then they took us down again at about 2.30 and they would take us up again one by one. They did not take me again except today (Tuesday). I am especially worried about one particular person because he was taken by them very frequently. His name is Ramez Jihad. He told us that they are torturing him in all parts of his body using electricity, suspension and beating. The officer would return him to our cell and say that we should not give him any water to drink because his body was full of electricity.
"Today (Tuesday) they took me again in a different room, to the right side I could identify Walid El Dessouki from his voice and the way he talks. He actually started to ask me about everything about politics: my friends at university, demonstrations, the reason I went to Hisham Mubarak Law Center. He did not give me a chance to reply to him. He was beating me all the time and was stomping with his shoes on my testicles.
While he was beating me he threatened to close down the printing workshop of my father, to arrest my mother and sisters and that he could expel me from university. At the same time he offered to help me in university if I collaborated with him and he gave me a small piece of paper with his phone numbers.
"Right now I feel that I cannot bend my back. I am in great pain in my lower body and walk with difficulty. It is horrible pain. I cannot take it."
We have examined Amr Abdel Latif and confirmed testicular congestion, contusions and bruises in the back muscles and the muscles on the front of the left thigh. We also found mild bruises secondary to slaps on the face. We have referred him to do an unltrasonography on both testicles.
El Nadim Center (Dr. Suzan Fayad, Dr. Abdallah Mansour, Dr. Aida Seif El Dawla, Dr. Magda Adly) - Cairo 15th April 2003
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 12/019/2003
UA 104/03 Fear of torture or ill-treatment/ Incommunicado detention 16 April 2003
EGYPT Mahmud Hassan Hassan (m)
Ramiz Gihad (m)
Ibrahim al-Sahari (m), journalist
Wa'el Tawfiq (m)
Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of four anti war activists who were detained between 12 and 13 April in the capital Cairo. Their exact whereabouts are unconfirmed, but they are reportedly being held incommunicado at the State Security Intelligence (SSI) headquarters at Lazoghly Square, where all four were reportedly subjected to torture or ill-treatment.
Mahmud Hassan Hassan was detained at an anti-war demonstration in front of the Egyptian Journalists' Union in the centre of Cairo on 12 April. Ramiz Gihad was detained at a nearby café on the same day. Both are believed to be held incommunicado at the SSI headquarters at Lazoghly Square, following the testimony of a released detainee who was held with them. Mahmud Hassan Tawfiq and Ramiz Gihad were reportedly severely beaten at the SSI headquarters. Ramiz Gihad was reportedly also subjected to electric shocks.
Ibrahim al-Sahari, a journalist and anti-war activist, was detained on 13 April at his home in Cairo by security officers who did not produce a warrant of arrest. He was reportedly taken to the SSI headquarters at Lazoghly Square, where he has allegedly been beaten. In February, Ibrahim al-Sahari was previously detained at the SSI headquarters in Cairo, during which time he was reportedly ill-treated.
Anti-war activist, Wa'el Tawfiq was reportedly detained in Cairo on 13 April. He is also reportedly held at the SSI headquarters, where he was allegedly beaten. He was previously detained in January 2002 during the Cairo International Book Fair. He was taken to the SSI headquarters, where he was allegedly tortured. A medical examination conducted by experts from the Cairo based Nadim Centre for the Management and Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence found evidence consistent with his torture allegations.
BACKGROUND
Since 20 March 2003, hundreds of anti-war activists have been detained in Egypt. Several detainees were reportedly tortured or ill-treated whilst held in detention, including at State Security Intelligence (SSI) branches. While most of the detainees have been released, several continue to be held in detention.
Torture of political detainees is common in Egypt, in SSI branches, police stations and occasionally prisons. The most common methods of torture reported are: electric shocks, beatings, suspension by the wrists or ankles, burning with cigarettes, and various forms of psychological torture, including death threats and threats of rape or sexual abuse of the detainee or their female relatives.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Arabic, English or your own language:
- expressing concern that Mahmud Hassan Hassan, Ramiz Gihad, Ibrahim al-Sahari and Wa'el Tawfiq are reportedly held in incommunicado detention;
- urging the authorities to reveal exactly where they are being held, and give them access to lawyers, relatives and any medical attention they may require;
- expressing concern at reports that anti-war activists, including Mahmud Hassan Hassan, Ramiz Gihad, Ibrahim al-Sahari and Wa'el Tawfiq were reportedly tortured or ill-treated in State Security Intelligence (SSI) detention;
- calling for an immediate and impartial investigation into the allegations of torture or ill-treatment, for the results to be made public and for those responsible to be brought to justice;
- calling on the authorities to provide a guarantee that detainees will not be tortured or ill-treated in detention;
- calling on the authorities to guarantee that no one should be held in custody or charged solely on the basis of exercising his or her right to freedom of expression.
APPEALS TO:
His Excellency Mohammad Hosni Mubarak
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
'Abedine Palace, Cairo, Egypt
Telegram: President Mubarak, Cairo, Egypt
E-mail:
webmaster@presidency.gov.eg Fax: + 202 390 1998
Telex: 93794 WAZRA UN
Salutation: Your Excellency
His Excellency General Habib al-Adeli
Minister of the Interior
Ministry of the Interior
Al-Sheikh Rihan Street
Bab al-Louk, Cairo, Egypt
Telegram: Minister of Interior, Cairo, Egypt
E-mail:
moi@idsc.gov.eg Fax: + 202 579 2031
Salutation: Dear Minister
His Excellency Mr Faruq Sayf al-Nasr
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
Midan Lazoghly, Cairo, Egypt
Telegrams: Minister of Justice, Cairo, Egypt
E-mail:
mojeb@idsc.gov.eg Fax: + 202 795 8103
Salutation: Dear Minister
Counsellor Maher 'Abd al-Wahid
Public Prosecutor
Dar al-Qadha al-'Ali
Ramses Street, Cairo, Egypt
Telegrams: Public Prosecutor, Cairo, Egypt
Fax: + 202 577 4716
Salutation: Dear Public Prosecutor
COPIES TO: Diplomatic representatives of Egypt accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 28 May 2003.
Al-Nadim Centre
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