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Press release
Cairo:18/2/2003

EOHR calls for the immediate release of Anti-Iraq war protesters

EOHR remains deeply concerned about the continued detention of activists arrested following recent Anti-Iraq protests. A number of peaceful assemblies have taken place around Cairo in the Book Fair, El Sayeda Zenab , El Sayeda Eisha, El Azhar, at the American Embassy and at the Arab League Building. A number of citizens[1] were arrested by Egyptian security forces and presented some of them before the State Security Prosecutor who ordered their detention for 15 days pending investigations of charges relating to possession of pamphlets and disrupting public peace. A number of individuals received administrative detention decrees and are now held in El Mazraat prison and El Zeraa compound in Tora prison, south of Cairo.

 An EOHR fact finding mission was told by eye-witnesses that protesters expressed their opinions peacefully during demonstrations. In this regard, EOHR condemns the use of coercive procedures taken against peaceful protesters and, more broadly, the restrictions placed on the right to freedom of opinion and expression by the Law of Assembly (No.10 of 1914 as amended by Presidential decree No. 87 of 1958 and the Emergency Law).

 Whilst the authorities have released Mr. Ibrahim El Sahari, a journalist at Akhbar El Alam World News, EOHR remains concerned for the fate of the remaining detainees. The arrest and detention of the protesters is a clear violation of basic constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and the right to the freedom of opinion and expression as contained in domestic and international law. Article 47 of the Egyptian Constitution provides that: “Freedom of opinion is guaranteed. Every individual has the right to express his opinion and to publicize it verbally or in writing or by photography or by other means…”. Additionally, Article 54 provides that “Citizens shall have the right to peaceable and unarmed private assembly, without the need for prior notice”.

 Attachment 1   

No.

Name

Reasons of arrest

Detention place

Notes

1

Karim Ahmed Omar

Demonstration in El Azhar

El Darab Al Ahmar Police Station

He was released after being imprisoned for 15 days on 29/1 on bail of 100 L.E

2

Mohamed Abdel Razak Mohamed

Demonstration in El Azhar

El Darab Al Ahmar Police Station

He was released after being imprisoned for 15 days on 29/1 on bail of 100 L.E

3

Mostafa Aid Ramadan

The Sayed Zenab Mosque

El Darab Al Ahmar Police Station

He was released after being imprisoned for 15 days on 29/1 on bail of 100 L.E

4

Mohamed Abdel Samee Imam

Demonstration in El Azhar

El Darab Al Ahmar Police Station

He was released after being imprisoned for 15 days on 29/1 on bail of 100 L.E

5

Tamer Hendawy Abd El Hafez

Peoples Assembly

State Security Office

He is held in Mazraet Tora prison

6

Ramy Safwat

The Sayed Zenab Mosque

State Security Office

He is held in Mazraet Tora prison

7

Mahmoud Hassan Mohamed

The Sayed Zenab Mosque

State Security Office

He is held in El Zeraa prison

8

Ibrahim El Sahari

Demonstration in the Book Fair

El Mazraa Prison

He was released on 17/2/2003

9

Magdi Abas El Kurdi

Demonstration in the Book Fair

El Mazraa Prison

 

10

Samir El Fouli

Demonstration in the Book Fair

El Mazraa Prison

Administrative detention

11

Mohamed Housni Mahmoud

Demonstration in the Book Fair

El Mazraa Prison

Administrative detention ( Palestinian)

12

Mohamed Khalil Ghatas

Demonstration in the Book Fair

El Mazraa Prison

Administrative detention

13

Abdel Gawad Ahmed

Demonstration in the Book Fair

El Mazraa Prison

Administrative detention

14

Mohamed El Dakhli

Demonstration in the Book Fair

El Mazraa Prison

Administrative detention

15

Saber El Sayed Abdel Maksoud

Demonstration in El Azhar

El Mazraa Prison

 

16

Naser Saad Sayed Ahmed

Demonstration in El Azhar

El Darab Al Ahma Police Station

 

17

Mostafa Mohamed El Dalgmoni

Demonstration in El Azhar

El Darab Al Ahma Police Station

 

18

Tarek Ahmed Ibrahim

Demonstration in El Azhar

El Darab Al Ahma Police Station

 


[1] See the attached table

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