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.

Morocco - HR Instruments

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

ICCPR: Ratified on 03.05.1979
Optional Protocol: No

Last State report: Overdue since 07.07.2015
Last concluding observations: 01.12.2004

Convention against Torture (CAT)

CAT: Ratified on 21.06.1993
Optional Protocol: Accessed on 24.11.2014
Art. 20 (Confidential inquiry): Yes
Art. 22 (Individual communications): Yes

Last State report: 30.06.2013
Last concluding observations: 21.12.2011

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

CED: Ratified on 14.05.2013
Art. 33 (Inquiry procedure): Yes

State report: Overdue since 14.06.2015
Last concluding observations: N/A

Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

Last review: 05.2012 (2nd cycle)
Next review: -

National Human Rights Institution (NHRI)

Conseil National des Droits de l'Homme (CNDH) – Status A

Last review: 10.2010
Next review: 11.2015