Press release
Cairo:6/2/2003

 The continuation of arresting Anti-war activists

 EOHR is deeply concerned regarding the continuation of arresting those who oppose to war against Iraq as the State Security Investigations arrested early this morning Mr. Ibrahim El Sahary, who is a journalist at Akhbar El Alam” World News” and anti-war activist. He is being held now in the office of State Security Investigations in Gaber Ibn Hayan in Giza, Cairo. Till now we have not received any information regarding if he is presented before the prosecution or not. And, EOHR received the information that the arrest of El Sahari is related to the demonstration held in the Book Fair.

Worth mentioning that the State Security Investigations arrested 11 persons who demonstrated against the war against Iraq on 18/1/2003 in El Sayeda Zenab district, Cairo and then they were referred to the State Security Prosecution that decided to detain them pending investigation with the charges of disrupting the public order and peace. Now they are still under pre-trial detention in Tora prison.

 In this regard, EOHR is deeply worried towards the continuation of such arrests as they are blatant violations of the right to peaceful assembly and the right to the freedom of opinion and expression. Therefore, EOHR calls for the immediate release of all detainees and urges the competent authorities to guarantee the right of citizens to express their opinion peacefully as stipulated by the Egyptian Constitution and the International Covenant on the Civil and Political Rights ratified by the Egyptian government.