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EOHR condemns Tahrir and Sayyeda Aisha attacks and calls for the pace of reform to be speeded up
5/5/ 2005
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) strongly condemns the Tahrir and Sayyeda Aisha attacks, calling on security bodies to intensify their efforts to avoid future repetition of such devastating terrorist incidents which kill innocent Egyptians and foreigners.
The Tahrir bombing occurred on Saturday the 30th April 2005, and, according to security sources, killed the bomber Ihab Youssry and injured three Egyptians, two Israelis, one Russian and one Italian national. Less than two hours later a tourist coach was fired at in Sayyeda Aisha leading to the death of the perpetrators of the attack after the members of the security forces opened fire on them.
It is imperative that the security forces track down the authors of acts of terrorism and bring them to justice while at the same time treating suspects in a humane manner consistent with their human rights under the Egyptian Constitution and international human rights instruments. It is particularly important that suspects' right to a fair trial before a natural judge be respected.
EOHR strongly condemns the death of Mohamed Suleiman Youssef - the 40 year old cousin of Ashraf Sayyed Youssef, the suspected perpetrator of the Al Azhar bombing - who died after being tortured.
EOHR kills for an immediate inquiry into his death.
EOHR cannot find the words to describe the criminal and inhumane acts witnessed in Tahrir and Sayyeda Aisha. Such acts, which target innocent Egyptians and foreigners, have a harmful impact on Egypt both in the short and long term, particularly in economic terms because they damage the tourist industry which represents one of its main sources of national income.
EOHR therefore calls for the pace of democratic reform to be speeded up. Such terrorist acts should not be used as a reason to suspend the course of reform because reform is the true means of protecting society and its various sections of the population from acts targeting its security and stability.
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