Egypt - Latest Press Releases

Egypt: Head of Legal Team Defending Civilians Convicted in Biggest Mass Military Trial Arbitrarily Detained

EGY - News | 21 September 2015

On 17 September 2015, Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers (SRIJL) regarding the arrest and detention of the head of the legal team defending nearly 500 individuals sentenced in Egypt's biggest mass trial of civilians before a military court. 54-year-old lawyer, Abdelmaksoud Ahmed Abdelmaksoud El Damanhoury was arrested by the Homeland Security in Damanhour in September 2015. Detained inside a Central Security Forces Camp since, he is accused under trumped-up charges and is at high risk of torture in retaliation for his work.

Egypt: Secretly Detained and Forced to Sign Confessions Under Threat of Torture by Homeland Security before Public Prosecutor

EGY - News | 14 September 2015

On 11 September 2015, Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) regarding the case of sales director Hosni Talaat Mohammed Al Nagar, detained incommunicado since his arrest by the 10th of Ramadan Homeland Security in July 2015. Hosni, who already suffers from diabetes, was severely tortured to make him confess to crimes he had not committed, before he was charged with "affiliation to a terrorist cell linked to the Muslim Brotherhood" and of various acts of sabotage.

Egypt: Two Additional Enforced Disappearances in Cairo Governorate

EGY - News | 09 September 2015

On 2 September 2015, Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) regarding the cases of 20-year-old student, Abdelrahman Attef Hussein and 31-year-old employee Hani Said Kahla, both disappeared since their respective arrests by the police on 11 July and 19 August 2015. Despite the testimonies of witnesses to their arrests, and the numerous steps taken by their families to find them, the authorities continue to deny their disappearances. Secretly detained, they are at high risk of torture, a widespread practice in Egypt, particularly against real and alleged political opponents, but also against students.

Egypt: 3 Family Members Disappear after Abduction by Homeland Security in Shubra El Kheima

EGY - News | 08 September 2015

On 28 August 2015, Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) regarding the abduction of Mohamed Abdelaziz Farag, 54, his 18-year-old son, Abdelaziz Mohammed Abdelaziz Farag, and his 61-year-old brother, Ismael Abdelaziz Farag. All disappeared following their abduction, from their home in Shubra, by the Homeland Security on 23 August 2015. Threatened twice by Homeland Security officers since the abduction of their three relatives, the Farag family has stopped looking for them but fear that they will be tortured during their secret detention.

Egypt: Misr Alaan TV Journalist Disappears after Abduction by Homeland Security in July 2015

EGY - News | 04 September 2015

On 3 September 2015, Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) regarding the enforced disappearance of journalist and member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mosab Abdalla Abdelhamid Morsy Hamed, in early July 2015. This journalist from Egyptian satellite opposition news channel Misr Alaan TV went missing following his abduction, by the Homeland Security, from his family home in the city of Tanta, 100km north of Cairo. Despite the strong media coverage of his abduction and the numerous steps taken by his relatives to locate him, Mosab has not been seen in the past two months. Given his work and political affiliation, he is at high risk of torture during his secret detention.

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