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EOHR Condemns the Continuous Excessive Use of Violence by Security Forces
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18/5/2006
EOHR expresses its condemnation to the continuous use of violence by the security forces in suppressing the demonstrators in solidarity with the judges, and arresting many of them as well.
On 18th May 2008, security forces blocked all the ways in and out of Cairo to prevent the supporters of the judges to reach the court where the third hearing of the two judges Mikki and Bastawesy disciplinary trial was taking place.
In addition to cordoning the downtown area, where the Supreme Judiciary House is located, and arresting many of the demonstrators who were denouncing the trial of the two judges and were gathered in the areas of Galaa Court, Kasr el Nil Bridge, Rameses and North Cairo Court. Among those who were arrested; Dr Esam Al Erian, the Treasurer of the Doctors Syndicate, and Muhamed Morsy, a member of the Guidance Office of the Muslim Brotherhood.
EOHR's lawyers were denied access to the Court to attend the hearing of the disciplinary trial and were stopped by security forces which were spreading in front of the Supreme Judiciary House where the trial is taking place.
These incidents reaffirmed the worries expressed by EOHR concerning the Minister of Interiors' decision issued on Tuesday 16th May 2006 criminalizing any protesting demonstrations without a permission from the Ministry of Interior.
In its press statement, EOHR predicted the use of violence by the security forces against the demonstrators in solidarity with the tried judges, and preventing them from expressing their opinions in a peaceful means.
On 18th May 2006, EOHR filed a case at the Administrative Judiciary Court verses the Minister of Interiors, demanding the suspension of the Minister's decision which requires a permission to organize peaceful demonstrations, and a court hearing was scheduled on 23rd May 2006.
EOHR reaffirms that these acts contradict with Article 47 and 54 of the Egyptian Constitution, which gives the full right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression as long as it takes a peaceful form.
These acts also contradict with all international human rights documents concerned with peaceful assembly and demonstrations, and an enactment of the Emergency Law which was extended by the Egyptian Parliament after the governments promises to use it only in cases of terrorism and drugdealing.
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