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EOHR Issues its Report on Collective Punishment:
"From Arish to Kafr Turkey…...Collective Punishment and its Counter Strategies"
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15/2/2007
On 15th February 2007, EOHR issues its report on collective punishment in Egypt "From Arish to Kafr Turkey…...Collective Punishment and its Counter Strategies". EOHR stresses in its report on how the collective punishment constitutes a breach of a wide range of human rights furnished by the Egyptian Constitution and international human rights instruments, such as the right to life, right to freedom and personal safety. The practice of collective punishment can reach all citizens regardless of their class, standard or affiliation due to the strict procedures carried out by security bodies. Collective punishment included many practices such as wide range arbitrary detention, taking hostages, curfews, random gunfire to terrorize citizens.
EOHR has paid close attention to the phenomena of collective punishment since Arish events where 3000 persons were detained after the Taba bombings in 2004. EOHR monitored and documented this phenomena which sometimes violated one of the most basic right which is the right to life. 2004 witnessed two main incidents of collective punishment; Ezzbet Alesla7 Al Zera'ay in Banha, Qualubia, where security forces fired random gunfire which led to one death and 50 injuries. The second incident took place in the village of Shubra Balula in Mounouf which led to one death and the detention of 21 citizens. 2005 also witnessed two main incidents; Kafr Sakr, Sharquia, which resulted to one death and the detention of 21 citizens. The second incident took place in the village of Sarando, Buhaira, resulted to one death and the arrest of 18 persons. In January 2007 the incidents of Kafr Turkey took place, leading to the death of Ahmed Hamdan Sayyid by a gunshot from police forces. One of the main incidents of collective punishment was the religious seditions in Alexandria which resulted to the arrest of 170 and injuring 22 citizens.
EOHR monitored 12 incidents of collective punishment in the period between 2004 and February 2007. 2005 comes on the first place recording 5 incidents, followed by 2004 and 2006 with 3 incidents each, and finally Kafr Turkey in January 2007.
In its report, EOHR relied on the testimonies of the villagers who stated that the reason of the violent encounters were because they refused to have a mobile network built in their village. Police forces fired gunshots to terrorize them which led to the death of Ahmed Hamdan Sayyid and 6 other injuries, followed by random arrests.
EOHR concluded its report by reaffirming that collective punishment constitutes a breach to basic human rights such as the right to life and right to freedom and personal safety.
Accordingly, EOHR demands an immediate investigation in the Kafr Turkey's incident and:
- Security forces should refrain from using unnecessary violence against citizens.
- Carrying out investigations in all previous collective punishment incidents and revealing the result to public.
- Put an end to random arrests which constitute a breach to freedom and personal safety stipulated in Article 41 of the Egyptian Constitution.
- Interrogating all police officers involved in these incidents and presenting them to justice.
- Establishing inspection mechanisms inside police stations and detention centers to monitor any violations and presenting the perpetrators to justice.
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