|
|
|
EOHR demands the immediate release of Adala Center activists
24/5/ 2005
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) strongly condemns the arrest of activists from the Adala (justice) Center and the Youth for Change movement, demanding that they be released immediately. Their arrest constitutes a violation of the rights to freedom, personal security and freedom of opinion, all rights guaranteed by the Constitution and international human rights instruments.
Gamal Abdel Fattah, Ali Mahmoud, Ahmed Fouad, Abdu Abdel Aziz Ezb and Rasha Ezb were arrested after they distributed leaflets during an exhibition organised by the Kifaya movement in Maadi, Cairo, on the 23rd May 2005. Five journalists working for a German television channel were arrested and detained in Masr al Qadima police station, Cairo, from 7 - 12 p.m. before being eventually released. The location in which the Adala Center activists are being held is unknown.
EOHR affirms that the arrest of the Adala activists constitutes a violation of the rights to freedom and personal security guaranteed by article 41 of the Constitution and article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which was incorporated into Egyptian legislation after ratification pursuant to article 151 of the Constitution. The prevention of activists from distributing leaflets infringes the right to freedom of opinion and expression under article 47 of the Constitution and article 19 of the ICCPR.
EOHR urges the Egyptian authorities to immediately release the Adala activists and in the meantime reveal where they are being held in application of the Constitution and international human rights instruments, and in keeping with human rights principles and steps towards political and democratic reform in Egypt.
|
|
Copyright © 2002 EOHR. All rights reserved. 