Press release
Cairo: 20/9/2003

EOHR calls for Urgent Investigation of the Death of a Citizen after being Tortured

The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) expresses its deep concern about the death of a citizen in El Fayoum governorate. Mohammad Abdel-Sattar Mursri, 26 years old, is an electronics engineer, resident at Tebhar village, Abshway center, El Fayoum governorate.

      The fact-finding mission sent by EOHR found out that the said victim has been detained at the headquarters of El Fayoum State Security Investigations on September 12, 2003. He was detained three days after the detention of his younger brother, Ahmed who was accused of disseminating  anti US and Israel propaganda.

      His family was informed of his death on September 14, 2003. They received the corpse which was buried without a funeral on the same night and in the absence of the inhabitants of the village.

      It is noteworthy the security authorities are pressuring the family to stop them from submitting any formal complaint about the death. The younger brother is still detained at the headquarters of the State Security Investigations in El Fayoum.

        EOHR calls for the immediate investigation of this incident. Moreover, it calls for conducting thorough investigations on the corpse to find out the real causes behind the death of the victim. The officers involved  in this crime of torture, when proven, should be put on trial.

        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.