Urgent Appeal

 EOHR calls upon the release of two defendants whose health have deteriorated and who are accused of being affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood

 The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) calls upon the Attorney General to release both Mahmoud Abdel Hamid Shokry (aged 83) and Mahmoud Abdel Hadi (48 years) as their health conditions have greatly deteriorated.  They are currently in pre-trial detention and are accused of being affiliated with the banned group, the Muslim Brotherhood.

EOHR is deeply concerned for the health of Mahmoud Abdel Hamid Shokry.  EOHR lawyers followed up the investigations and observed that his health had deteriorated largely because of his age; as he attended the investigation, he was unable to walk and was transported by ambulance and carried by policemen.  Mahmoud Abdel Hamid Shokry was arrested on April 22, 2003 and was interrogated by the State Security Prosecution.  He was held in pre-trial detention in Mazraet Tora prison pending investigation into his case (no. 814/2003).

EOHR also received information indicating that the health of defendant Mahmoud Abdel Hady is unstable and that he suffers from a number of heart-related illnesses.  The defendant was arrested on June 20, 2003 in Talhka in the Governorate of Dakahlia.

EOHR reaffirms its condemnation of the state security investigation’s practice of using pre-trial detention against political opponents in cases that are not supported by sufficient legal foundation.  It believes that the deteriorated health of the two defendants provides a sufficient reason for justifying their immediate release.