02 September 2010

Egypt: Torture victim paralysed while in custody

Alkarama has just learned that Omar Makhlouf, detained and tortured since his arrest on 12 June 2008, is now paralysed as his health continues to worsen.

Omar Makhlouf has consistently been denied proper medical treatment while in custody. The Egyptian authorities are in direct violation of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, specifically Article 5 which states that "No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" and Article 9 which states that "No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile."

Alkarama sent Omar Makhlouf's case to the Special Rapporteur on Torture on 24 June 2010, requesting his intervention with the Egyptian authorities to quickly investigate the allegations of torture and to prosecute those responsible for these crimes.

Alkarama calls upon the Egyptian government to order the victim's release and transfer him to a hospital for immediate medical care, before his health is irreparably damaged.

Egypt - HR Instruments

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

ICCPR: Ratified on 14.01.1982
Optional Protocol: No

State report: Overdue since 01.11.2004 (4th)
Last concluding observations: 28.11.2002

Convention against Torture (CAT)

CAT: Accessed on 25.06.1986
Optional Protocol: No
Art. 20 (Confidential inquiry): Yes
Art. 22 (Individual communications): No

State report: Due on 25.06.2016 (initially due in 2004)
Last concluding observations: 23.12.2002

International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED)

No

Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

Last review: 02.2010 (1st cycle)
Next review: 2014 (2nd cycle)

National Human Rights Institution (NHRI)

National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) – Status A

Last review: 10.2006
Next review: Deferred