Press release
Cairo:22/3/2003

Serious Exceeds By Police Forces Against

Anti-war Demonstrators in Cairo:

EOHR calls for the immediate release of those arrested

 The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) is deeply concerned about the excessive use of force by the Egyptian police against thousands of anti-war demonstrators, who have protested over the past two days in Tahrir Square of Downtown Cairo, Al-Azhar, Al-Azhar University, Cairo University, and the Bar Association.  This confrontation resulted in the injuries of dozens of demonstrators and central security soldiers, as well as the arrest of a large number of citizen demonstrators. 

According to information received by the EOHR, Tahrir Square witnessed the use of police sticks, water hoses, tear gas bombs, and police dogs in suppression of the demonstrators.  Also, the police attacked the Bar Association, beating and arresting a number of lawyers.  In addition, two deputies of the Egyptian Parliament were severely beaten, namely Hamdin Sabahi and Mohamed Farid Hassanin.  The arrested individuals were detained in the central security camp in al-Darrasa, the Cairo police headquarters, and in the al-Zahir and Boulaq al-Dakrur police stations.  The injured persons were admitted to the hospitals of al-Hussein, Ahmed Maher, Umm al-Masriyeen, Boulaq al-Dakrur, and Qasr al-Aini.   

EOHR is concerned about the excessive use of force against demonstrators, finding especially troubling the use of police dogs and the attack on the Bar Association.  It views this exaggerated use of police force to intimidate demonstrators as the main factor in creating an environment of contention and hostility.  As popular demonstrations were expected in Egypt, the police would have more appropriately responded by accommodating the demonstrators and their need to peacefully express their sentiments. 

Accordingly, EOHR calls on the Egyptian government for the immediate release of those arrested and its guarantee to the right to peaceful assembly.  EOHR is closely monitoring the situation of injured persons and the developments in the ongoing investigation of those arrested.  EOHR calls for an open investigation of the excessive use of force by the police.