03 November 2011

Egypt: Where are the results of '9/9 demonstrators' investigation?

Giza-police-headquarter On 23 October 2011, the Supreme State Security Prosecution referred 76 defendants, who were arrested in the events outside the Saudi Embassy, to the Supreme State Security Emergency Court.

‏The prosecution did not disclose any information about the killing of peaceful demonstrators by the Central Security Forces and Military Police so far.

‏On 9 September 2011 thousands of demonstrators headed from Tahrir Square to the Israeli Embassy in the "correcting the path Friday". Clashes happened between the demonstrators and the Military police and Central Security Forces which used tear gas to disperse the crowds causing the death of a number of protesters.

‏The Ministry of Interior issued a statement on 10 September 2011 in which it confirmed "the commitment of its officers and soldiers to what it had announced earlier of respecting the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of opinion and expression and their adherence to the orders given about self control even if attacked"

‏Eyewitnesses have told Alkarama that at least one police vehicle with police inside it crushed and injured many protesters during the events following clashess outside the Israeli embassy.

‏According to their statements, the protesters pursued the vehicle until it stopped behind Giza police station. The following three men were fatally wounded by police and died due to gunshots wounds to the chest:

‏ • Mr. Mohammed Mostafa Yehya, 23

‏ • Mr. Ragab Ramadan Hussein, 23

‏ • Mr. Alaa Soliman Mansour, 23

‏Mr. Mohamed Yehya, brother of Mostafa Al Ajeel, told Alkarama that the Supreme State Security Prosecution did not take any action after receiving complaints submitted by the families of the victims. In their complaints they accused the Central Security Forces shooting the protesters outside the Saudi embassy, and fatally wounding Mr. Al Ajeel and injuring several bystanders.

‏Mr. Ahmed Mefreh, Alkarama's Cairo-based legal researcher, said that "there is a state of ambiguity as to the exact number of those killed in this event and the investigations which are conducted with some of the cases." Mefreh has urged the Supreme State Security Prosecution to clarify it statements and publically announce results of its investigations, for benefit of the families' in question.

‏In a recent report, the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) in Egypt expressed its concerns over the increasing number of casualties and injuries in clashes caused by live ammunition. The council demanded that the General Prosecution investigate these matters and make a public announcement of its findings. The centre also stated that witnesses had reported deaths than had been announced.

‏Lawyers and human rights defenders criticized the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) before the Egyptian revolution and called for its abolition. The NCHR also urges that the SSSP be limited in its capacity to violate the constitution, as well as limiting its investigation 'political cases' in favor of the former regime.

‏Alkarama is disturb by the SSSP's contradictory dealings. While the State Security Prosecution referred 76 defendants tp the Supreme State Security Emergency Court on 9 September 2011, the investigations in the killing of protesters by security forces and Military police are standstill.

‏Alkrama has filed a complaint regarding the death of Mr. Mostafa Yehya Al Ajeel and others to the UN Special Rapportuer on Extrajudicial and Summary Execution, requesting an investigation and a written report to the Egyptian authorities in order to bring the perpetrators to justice.

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