Press release
Cairo:271/2003

EOHR calls upon releasing demonstrators who protested against war and the united labor bill of law

 EOHR is deeply concerned about the arrest of 10 demonstrators by the Egyptian security forces as well as they were put under pre-trial detention pending investigations as they are charged with being assembled and disseminating propaganda which disrupt the public peace. The defendants are still under detention in the offices of State security investigations and a number of police stations in Cairo.

Worth mentioning is that Cairo witnessed a number of demonstrations and peaceful assemblies in protest against war against Iraq. These demonstrations took place in El Sayeda Zenab and before the US Embassy. Also they protested against the draft united labor law in front of the building of the Peoples’ Assembly because this bill includes violations of the labors’ rights and the right to strike in particular. Security men used force to disperse demonstrations which led to the injury of many persons as well as they arrested others arbitrarily. (Attached is a table of their names)

In this regard, EOHR calls upon the release of defendants in order to respect their constitutional right to express their opinion peacefully. Also, the Egyptian government shall be comply with its international obligations towards respecting the right to peaceful assembly as it ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights . In this context, this requires the cessation of using emergency law and amending the law no. 10 of 1914 concerning assembly to meet the requirements of  the actual implementation of the right to peaceful assembly

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