November 6, 2003

The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) expresses its deep alarm regarding the information about the death of a citizen named Sa'd Sayed Mohammed Kotb. The latter is an accountant at the Syndicate of Engineers and resident at the district of Imbaba Airport, Giza. He was arrested by a force of the State Security Investigations and was detained in the office of the State Security Investigations in Gaber Ibn Hayaan.

The fact-finding mission dispatched by EOHR to the place of residence of the victim was informed that he was arrested on November 1, 2003. He was detained inside the headquarters of the State Security Investigations for being affiliate of the banned Muslim Brotherhood.
The family of the said citizen was informed of his death on November 5, 2003 around 2:00 am. However, he died in the dawn of November 4, 2003 while being transferred to the Omm El Masryin Hospital. He did not receive any kind of health care. In its report, the hospital proved that there are several injuries allover the corpse.
In report No. 9214 of 2003 issued at El Doqqi police station, the Public Prosecution confirmed that there are injuries in the corpse and ordered forensic examinations be conducted to find out the causes of death. The Public Prosecution confirmed that there are notable injuries allover the corpse: bruises over the left eyebrow, a blood clot in the lower lip, bruises on the right wrist and arm. Moreover, there are traces of blood clots and bruises on both knees.

It is noteworthy that this incident is not unprecedented. EOHR issued a press release on September 20, 2003 about the death of a citizen named Mohammed Abdel Sattar El Rubi after being detained and tortured inside the headquarters of State Security Investigations in El Fayoum governorate.
EOHR has concluded a bill amending the legislations criminalizing torture in the Egyptian law. Such bill was approved by some members of the People's Assembly and it will be considered by the PA in its coming session.
In this regard, EOHR re-emphasizes its continual appeal to re-consider the penalties of the crime of torture so as to bring such practices to an end. All state agencies, particularly the Ministry of Interior, should take all necessary measures to end the crime of torture.