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EOHR Demands the immediate release of the Kefayia Demonstrators
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16/3/2007
EOHR condemns the excessive use of violence by security forces against demonstrators belonging to Kefayia Movement and the arrest of 33 members of the movement. EOHR considers these acts violation to the Egyptian Constitution and international human rights documents, and demands the immediate release of the detainees.
On the 15th March 2007, Kefayia Movement organized a peaceful demonstration at Tahrir Square as a protest to the Egyptian reaction to the death of 250 Egyptian prisoners of war who were killed by the Israeli army after capturing them in 1967. The demonstration witnessed violent confrontations between the demonstrators and plain-clothed security forces when the demonstrators tried to break the security cordon and to move to other streets of downtown Cairo. Eventually, security forces arrested 33 of the demonstrators, which provoked more people to gather in front of the Tagamoaa Party headquarter in Talaat Harb Street, as they went on strike until the release of their arrested colleagues. On the 16th March 2007, 21 of the detainees were presented to Kasr El Nil Prosecution Office in case 1654/2007. The Prosecution Office faced the 21 detainees with the following charges: participating in a gathering that exceeded 5 persons aiming to disable laws and regulations, attacking policemen, transmitting false statements aiming to disable traffic and endangering peoples' lives, possessing publications for distribution aiming to disable laws and regulations, attacking governmental employees physically and verbally while carrying out their job, and endangering land transportation. All these charges are being applied according to Emergency Law which was extended for two more years, despite the promises made by the government to use it only in case of terrorism and drugs smuggling.
EOHR restates its condemnation to the interruption of the demonstrators by security forces, and not allowing them to express their opinion, which is a violation to Article 47 and 54 of the Constitution and also a violation to international human rights documents which stipulate the right to peaceful assembly and demonstration.
Accordingly, EOHR demands the ending of the state of emergency which is always been used by the Government to suppress freedoms and rights furnished by the Egyptian Constitution and international human rights instruments. EOHR also demands the abolishment of Law 10/1914 to be substituted with a new law to regulate peaceful demonstration according to constitutional and international measures.
Enjoying the right to peaceful assembly should be practiced through sending a note to the Ministry of Interior containing all information on the demonstration and taking all procedures to guarantee the enjoyment of the right to peaceful assembly, and to protect the demonstrators from physical assaults and arbitrary detention by security forces.
Names of persons arrested during the demonstration:
1- Khaled Abdel Hameed
2- Mohamed Adel
3- Waleed Salah
4- Mustafa Ismail
5- Bahaa Saber
6- Amr Ibraheem
7- Hosam Shaaban
8- Mohamed Abdul Latif
9- Amer Abdul Monaim
10- Emad Saber
11- Ahmed Abu Sheat
12- Ahmed Abdul Gawad
13- Victor Bekheet
14- Mohamed Malek
15- Mahmoud Wardany
16- Ahmed Alaa
17- Naael Yehia
18- Mohmed Fathy
19- Ramy Tawfeek
20- Nagy Rashaad
21- Kareem Reda
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