Press Release:
Cairo: 23/3/2003

Prosecutors order the detention of Anti-War Protestors…

Investigation of Excessive Force Used by Police 

            EOHR lawyers followed up yesterday the investigation carried out by El Gamaleya, Azabkia and Kasr El Nil prosecutors regarding arrested demonstrators who protested in Cairo.  They numbered at 58 and were mostly students, lawyers, journalists as well as others from a wide variety of professions.  Defendants included three juveniles and five women.  (See attached names.)  Prosecutors ordered the detention of 43 defendants for fifteen days and 12 defendants for four days pending investigation.  The three juveniles will be presented before prosecutors again today.  It is expected that 26 other defendants will be presented before Abdeen prosecutors for further investigation.  EOHR also received information that four students from the American University at Cairo had been arrested at their homes early today.  Their names are: Ahmed Abou Laban, Tamim Morid El Baragoosey, Ahmed Samir and Hosam El Hamlewy.  

Regarding the interrogations, the Kasr El Nil prosecutor interrogated 31 defendants: two juveniles, Mohamed Hegezy and Sayid Masoud. Prosecutors ordered them detained for 15 days pending investigation after having charged them with the following:  

·        Intending to damage public property and prevent governmental authorities from attending to their work as well as using force;

·        Participating in intentionally setting fire to state-owned governmental properties and monies (more specifically, a fire truck);

·        Participating in damaging government property (more specifically government motorcycles and one public bus);

·        Participating in intentionally suspending public transportation;

·        Participating in an assembly consisting of more than five persons;

·        Disseminating propaganda aimed at disrupting public security and which damages public interests 

El Gamaleya Prosecutors investigated and ordered the detention of 14 defendants for 15 days pending investigation and charged them with the following crimes:  

1. Participating in an assembly consisting of more than five people and whose aim was to disrupt the peace and public security;
2. Participating with others in disseminating propaganda;
3. Assaulting policemen during their duties.

Al Azabkia Prosecutors investigated 13 defendants, including juvenile Mariam Bekry.  They ordered their detention for 4 days pending investigation after having charged them with the following:

• Participating in an assembly consisting of more than five persons and whose aim was to disrupt the peace and public security, in addition to assaulting persons and properties;
• Participating with others in disseminating propaganda aimed at disrupting  public security and damaging public interests as well as suspending public transportation;
• Assaulting policemen during their duties.

In a press release issued on yesterday, March 22, 2003, EOHR expressed its deep concern 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.

EOHR believes there is no need for using pre-trial detention as it is meant to be a penalty.  EOHR also calls on the Egyptian government for the immediate release of the defendants and to guarantee their rights to peacefully assemble.  Assembly law number 10/1914 which is used now in investigations breaches the Egyptian constitution and human rights standards.   

Below are the names of those arrested at El Tahrir Square, Cairo and who are to be presented before Kasr El Nil Prosecution:

 Below are the names of those arrested and presented by the Gamaleya Prosecution:

 Below are the names of those arrested at the Bar Association Demonstrations and who are to be presented by the Azbakeya Prosecution: