03 February 2011

Egypt: Local and international human rights defenders beaten and arrested

At 3 pm, members of military police and unidentified men in civilian clothes entered the offices of the Hisham Mubarak Lawl Center on Souk Al-Tawfikia street in Cairo. They arrested more than 20 members of local and international NGOs. The individuals in question were members of the Committee for the defence of Egypt's protesters. They were beaten before being taken away. Their phones and other work-related objects were confiscated.

Among the victims of the arrest were:
- Ahmad Seif Al Islam (Hisham Mubarak Law Center)
- Mona Al Masry (Hisham Mubarak Law Center)
- Khaled Ali (Egyptian Center for Social and Economic Rights)
- Nada Sadek
- Mohamed El Taher
- Two members of Amnesty International
- One member of Human Rights Watch

Alkarama was also informed that members of the security forces and unidentified men in civilian clothes continue to harass and arrest journalists, search their hotel rooms, especially the Hilton and confiscate cameras and other professional equipment.

Alkarama condemns the Egyptian government's continued attacks and repression of human rights defenders and those who practice their right to freedom of expression.

Alkarama urgently submitted the above mentioned information today to the High Commissioner of Human Rights at the United Nations, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and to the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression.

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