The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights

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I. Fieldwork Activity:
Even though there are many methods to expose violations of human rights in Egypt, such as the daily following up of newspaper issues, receiving and following up complaints to EOHR is still the most important mechanism of the organization's fieldwork.
Receiving complaints is a priority for the organization, as it acts as an important indicator of the extent of the presence of EOHR in the Egyptian society.
It also indicates the extent of EOHR's interaction with victims of human rights' violations.

Table (1): Complaints received by EOHR since 1993 until the end of 2002

(1-1) Dealing with complaints received by EOHR:

EOHR received 650 complaints this year covering a variety of issues concerning violations of human rights.
Only 160 complaints were documented as the rest either lacked sufficient information or were not of concern to the organization's activity.
19 complaints were specified as special cases, the rest were subjective complaints concerning larger classifications of violations as presented in the table below.

Table (2): Distribution of complaints received in 2002 according to the fields of human rights violated:

EOHR received a large amount of cases concerned with varying fields of human rights violations, whether civil, political, economic or social.
In accordance with the mechanism of the organization, those complaints were carefully handled using different methods in order to achieve immediate and effective responses.
These methods are:

The following table (Table 3) explains EOHR's statements during 2002 directed to concerned authorities and bodies.

Table (3): The correspondence of EOHR

During 2002, 32 written replies were received by the EOHR from several ministries, authorities, embassies and governmental agencies.
No replies were received from the Ministry of Interior, the General Prosecutor and the Prison Director, even though a large number of inquiries had been directed to them.
If we compare 2001 with 2002, we will find an increase in replies sent to the Organization. The table below presents the varying rates of replies during the previous years:

Table (4): The Replies received by EOHR since 1996 until 2002

Table 5: Replies received by EOHR during 2002

(1-2) Fact-finding Missions:
EOHR lawyers have gone on several fact-finding missions in different governorates, nation wide, to document facts concerning different human rights violations.
These missions included the following.

The Governorate of Cairo:
- Nasr City: A fact-finding mission on a citizen sent back to Egypt following the events of 11th September.
The mission also inquired about the status of Egyptians in the United States.
- Al Khalifa police station: A fact-finding mission to investigate the torture of a citizen in the station.
Another mission was sent to investigate the death of a detainee within the premises of the station.
- El Sayeda police station- A fact-finding mission to investigate the torture of a citizen in the station.
- Ahmed Orabi underground station: A fact-finding mission to investigation the Metro drivers' strike.
- Cairo University: A fact-finding mission to investigate the student demonstrations against the Israeli violations of the rights of Palestinians.
- 1st police division in Nasr City: A mission to investigate the detention of a citizen there
- Al- Mounira al-Gharbiya: A fact-finding mission to investigate complaints there
- Helwan: A fact-finding mission to investigate the microbus drivers' strike
- Population National Council: A fact-finding mission to investigate its employees' strike

The Governorate of Kalyobiya:
- Shubra el-Kheima: A fact-finding mission to obtain information concerning the death of a prisoner in Shubra police station
- El Horiya Hospital in Shubra El Kheima: A fact-finding mission to investigate the death of a prisoner in the police station.
It was suspected that he died as a result of torture.
- Shubra el-Kheima: A fact-finding mission to investigate the martyrdom of an Egyptian youth in Palestine

The Governorate of Monofiya:
- Kwisna: A fact-finding mission to investigate a torture case in its police station.
Another was sent to investigate the death of a citizen within the premises of the police station.

The Governorate of Kafr El Sheikh:
Burg Megheizal village: A fact-finding mission to investigate the arrest of sailors in Israel.

The Governorate of Giza:
Faysel: A fact-finding mission to investigate a medical neglect complaint

The Governorate of Alexandria:
Alexandria City: A fact-finding mission on an Egyptian citizen deported from the US shortly after the events of 11th September.
Another mission in the city was sent to investigate the suspicious death of a sailor captain in Algeria.

The Governorate of Port Said:
- Port Said city: A fact-finding mission was sent to investigate the clashes that took place between the people of the city and police forces
Another mission was sent to investigate a complaint sent to EOHR.

The Governorate of Asiut:
- Asiut City: A mission was sent to investigate clashes between residents and police forces in Asiut.

The Governorate of Sohag:
-Sohag City: A mission was sent to investigate the death of a citizen in prison.

The Governorate of Minia:
- Maghagha City: A mission was sent to investigate clashes between the Muslim and Christian residents.

The Governorate of Sharkiya:
- Zakazik City: A mission was sent to investigate a complaint received by EOHR

(1-3) The Monitoring of trials and investigations:

In 2002, EOHR continued its follow up in the field of supervising court sentences, prosecutor investigations, including the martial court and the Supreme State Security Court (emergency).
This comes as part of EOHR's concern of the extent of insurances of a fair and impartial trial.
Following is the distribution of the EOHR's activities according to the place of trial and investigation:
1. Martial Court:
EOHR followed up two military trials in 2002.
These are:

Al Waad Organization Case, number 24/2001, military felonies.
There were 94 accused in this case.
The Muslim Brotherhood's Doctors Organization Case number 29/2001, military felonies.
There were 22 accused in this case

2. Trails concerned with freedom of expression:
EOHR followed up trials against journalists in different courts:
These include the following:

The case of Adel Hamouda, Editor in Chief of Sout al-Umma newspaper who was accused of libel and slander against the businessman, Naguib Saweiras.
The case of Adel Hamouda, Editor in Chief of Sout al-Umma newspaper, in which he was accused of libel and slander against the Chairman of the Journalists' Syndicate, Ibrahim Nafea.
The case of Shohdy Naguib Sorrour who was accused of publishing his father poems on the internet, which were considered inappropriate.
The case of Wahid Ghazy and Hossam Wahbatallah, the journalists in El- Mowagaha newspaper.
They were accused of publishing photographs of a naked church priest.
the case of Muhammad Abdullah who was accused of libel and slander Against the Chairman of the journalists' syndicate, Ibrahim Nafea
The case of Ahmed Harridy, who was accused of libel and slander against Ibrahim Nafea.
The case of Andy Shukry who was accused of spreading rumors through the internet.
The case of Muhammad Khalifa Hassan who was accused of libel and slander against Ibrahim Nafea and Ms. Bahira Mokhtar.
The case of Souad Abdel Mottellib, a journalist, for libel and slander against Ibrahim Nafea and Ms. Bahira Mokhtar.
The case of Youssef Boutros, a journalist who was accused of libel and slander against Ibrahim Nafea and Sayed Ali Abdel Kader.
The case of Shafik El-Taher who was accused of libel and slander against Usama Saraya.
The case of Saeed Abdel Khalek and Walid El Daramaly who were accused of publishing photos of the body of the former President Anwar El Sadat.
The case of Mahmoud Muhammad Youssef, the journalist accused for issuing a newspaper without legal permission.

3. Normal trials:
EOHR investigated the following cases:

The case of torture leading to the death of a citizen.
Hazem al-Darby, chief of investigation in Nasr City police station and Ashraf Gohar, investigation assistant in the same police station were sentenced to three years with labor.
The case of torture of a citizen in El Wayli police station by the chief of the felonies investigations (The accused was sentenced to 10 years in abstentia as he did not attend the session).
The case of torture of a citizen to death in Imbaba police station by Sayed Boghdadi, the chief of investigation of the police station.
(He was sentenced to three years with labor.
The court sentenced a police sergeant to one year of imprisonment
The case of torture of Muhammad Tammam, an Egyptian Citizen, in Al Omariya police station (The case was in court during 2002).
The case number 660 -119 concerning Youssef El Sayed El Nomeiry against the Saudi-Egyptian Company

4. Trials of the High State Security (emergency):

The Ibn Khaldoun Center case in which Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim and others were accused
Usama Ahmed Farag Case (accused of setting fire to video clubs).
The El-Tahrir Party Case, number 2359-82/182 of 2002
The re-trial of Nabil Ahmed Farag Suleiman (El Jihad El Kubra)

Emergency state security felonies:

The case of insulting religions in which Sayed Tulba and others were accused.
Case no. 277/2002 state security.
El -Raml elections' case, El Raml, Alexandria.
Felonies.
101 persons were accused.

5. Following up investigations held by General Prosecutor and Emergency State Security Prosecutor:
General Prosecutors' investigation:

El Sayeda Zeinab Prosecutors: A case of medical negligence who's victim was Azhar Abdel Tawwab, dated on 28 January 2002.
El Sayeda Zeinab Prosecutors: The case of medical negligence who's victim was Walid Nasr Wahba Nasr.
Convention no. 2778 dated on 23 June 2002.
Cairo misdemeanors Prosecutors: The case of publishing photographs of the former President, Anwar El Sadat, in El Midan newspaper.
Saeed Abel Khalek and Walid El Daramaly were the accused.
Giza Prosecutors: The investigation of 65 students who were arrested during a demonstration in Cairo University.
Giza Prosecutors: The investigation of the torture of a citizen in Giza police station.

The plaintiff is Nasr Mareay Muhammad Ibrahim and Ahmed Omar Ibrahim.

State Security Prosecutor
Case number 796/2002 in which 33 persons were accused of joining the banned Muslim Brotherhood.
Case number 872/2002 in which 5 persons were accused of joining the banned Muslim Brotherhood.
Case number 760/2002 in which 6 persons were accused of joining the banned Muslim Brotherhood.
Case number 583/2002 in which 6 persons were accused of printing publications accusing the ruling system of not performing its function towards its people.
Case number 876/2002 in which 6 persons were accused of joining the banned Muslim Brotherhood.
Case number 703/2002 in which 22 persons were accused of joining the banned Muslim Brotherhood.
Case number 881/2002 in which 21 persons were accused of joining the banned Muslim Brotherhood.
Case number 868/2002 in which 12 persons were accused of joining the politically banned Muslim Brotherhood.
Case number 448/2002 in which 6 persons were accused of joining a banned organization that aims to obstruct the functions of the State's institutions and accuses the rulers and the government of profanity.
Case number 500/2002 in which 29 persons were accused of reviving the banned Talaea El Fath organization.
Case number 804/2002 in which 21 persons were accused of joining the legally banned Takfir organization.
Case number 533/2002 in which 9 persons were accused of joining an organization that was established in contradiction with the constitution.
Case number 584/2002 in which 19 persons were accused of joining an Islamic organization established in contradiction with the constitution in order to use force and overthrow the ruling system, using terrorism as one of its means.
Case number 27690/2002 in which 8 persons were accused of assembling and intending to disrupt election procedures and regulations.
Case number 27691/2002 in which 10 persons were accused of assembling and intending to disrupt election procedures.
Case number 27693/2002 in which 21 persons were accused of assembling and intending to disrupt elections procedures.
Case number 27694/2002 in which 5 persons were accused of assembling and intending disrupt election procedures.
Case number 27699/2002 in which 6 persons were accused of assembling and intending to disrupt elections procedures.
Case number 27700/2002 in which 33 persons were accused of assembling and intending to disrupt election procedures.
Case number 853/2002 in which 22 persons were accused of joining the legally banned El Takfir organization.
Case number 883/2002 in which 36 persons were accused of the legally banned El Takfir organization.
Case number 2057/2002 in which 10 persons were accused of joining the legally banned El Takfir organization.
Case number 196/2002 in which 8 persons were accused of joining the legally banned El Takfir organization.
Case number 1066/2001 in which 16 persons were accused of joining the politically banned Muslim Brotherhood prohibited organization.
Case number 691/2002 in which 38 persons were accused of joining the legally banned El Takfir organization.
Case number 884/2002 in which 2 persons were accused of joining the politically banned Muslim Brotherhood.
Case number 820/2002 in which 6 persons were accused of taking aid to help the families of detained people.
They were also accused of joining the banned Al Jihad organization.
Case number 873/2002 in which one person was accused for broadcasting sexually inciting advertisements.
Case number 832/2002 in which 2 persons were accused of selling antiquities and joining the banned Al Jihad Organization.
Case number 193/2002 in which 2 persons were recently accused.
This case goes back to 1993 when two different persons were accused of this case and who were later released.
The currently accused persons were arrested in 2002 in Switzerland.
They are accused of joining the banned Al Jihad Organization, which aims to overthrow the ruling system and threatens the social peace.
Case number 865/2002 in which one person is accused of joining the banned Al Jihad organization
Case number 454/2002 in which 101 persons were accused of joining El Tahrir party, which was established in contradiction with law.
Case number 759/2002 in which 4 persons were accused of force entering the headquarters of the Nasserist Party, striking within it, terrifying people, and possessing offensive weapons.

(1-4) Prison visits: In 2002, EOHR lawyers visited prisons 12 times where they met with 14 detainees and prisoners.
The visits included prisoners in Istikbal Turrah, Fayoum, Turrah Farm, Damanhur, Wadi Natroun, Liman Turrah Hospital.

(1-5) EOHR's activities in informing domestic and foreign public opinion about the status of human rights in Egypt:
EOHR's activities in this field vary from issuing press releases, reports and specialized reports, to conferences, seminars, international activities, and the publication of books.
The following presents the organization's activities in detail:

1) Press Releases and Statements:
In 2002, EOHR issued several statements, press releases, and specialized reports.
When comparing 2002 with the year 2001, we find that there has been an increase in the number of press releases, specialized reports, and statements issued.
This is shown in the table below:

Table (6): illustrates the number of declarations, statement and reports issued in 2001 and 2002

Reports	declaration statements	year
3 reports	31 press statements and announcements	2001
10 reports	92 press statements and announcements	2002

The organization issued in 2002, 92 statements, press releases, and one emergency request.
These are as follows:

Table (7): illustrates the Statements and press releases issued in 2002

2) Reports
In 2002, EOHR issued ten reports on human rights violations in Egypt.
These reports cover a group of cases such as supervising the Egyptian prisons conditions, torture and abuse, the Egyptian workers conditions in the Gulf, the phenomena of recurrent detention in Egypt, military courts, and also the right to demonstrate peacefully, and the annual report of the organization in 2001.
These reports are detailed as follows:

Table (8): illustrates the reports issued in 2002

N	The report name	Date
1	The organizations report concerning abuse in the prisons. "Tuberculosis ... the slow death in both Wadi El Gadid and Damanhur Prisons"	23rd January 2002
2	The EOHR report on abuse and torture in police centers and stations " Victims with Violated Rights"	4th March 2002
3	The organizations report on the Egyptian workers in the Gulf" Travelers to the Unknown"	18th March 2002
4	The organizations report on using firearms in dispersing peaceful gatherings " Perpetrators of this crime should be punished"	12th April 2002
5	The organizations report on sending torturers to the criminal court " A new approach to end torture in Egypt"	25th May 2002
6	The report of the new Law of Associations " Nationalizing Public Work in Egypt"	2nd June 2002
7	The third report on recurrent detention " Families Subjected to Detention"	16th June 2002
8	The EOHR annual report of 2001	13th August 2002
9	The organizations report "The Military Court no.6 on the Muslim Brotherhood in case no. 29 -2001.	15th September 2002
10	The organization report " Nothing New But Blocks"	28th September 2002

3) Conference and Seminars in 2002:

The organization held its eighth annual intellectual seminar entitled "Strategies for Activating the Role of the Egyptian Civil Society".
The seminar was held in Cairo at Helnan Shephard Hotel on 26-27 July 2002.
EOHR held a round table discussion on 11 September 2002 at the organizations headquarters entitled "The Anniversary of 11th September: Future Options: A Security Society or Human Rights Society".
The purpose was to evaluate the international and the local situation as seen from the human rights viewpoint one year after the 11th September attacks.
EOHR held a seminar on 18 September 2002, in participation with the press syndicate entitled "The Media and Justice in Egypt".
The meeting discussed the means of supporting the positive role of media and press in serving the judicial trials in Egypt.
EOHR held a press conference in participation with the Committee for Defending Democracy 19 November 2002 to announce the committee's vision of the political and constitutional reforms in Egypt, in addition to announce its work-plan for the next stage.
EOHR held a meeting on 23 December 2002 to discuss the executive charter of the Association Law no. 84/2002. A large number of human rights representatives attended the conference.
The main purpose of the meeting was to recognize the association's situation with regards to the law and to discuss several schemes to deal with the new law.
EOHR held a seminar on 25 December 2002 to discuss the subject "Censorship of Thought and Creativity in Egypt".

4) EOHR's media activities:
In a continuing trend, 2002 witnessed a broader coverage of the organization's activities, stances, and statements than in previous years' coverage in both newspapers and on TV. On the written level, EOHR received wide coverage in both newspapers and magazines.
These include opposition and independent newspapers.
Examples are: El Ahrar, El Hayat El Londoniya , El Wafd, El Araby, El Ahaly, El Bedaya, El Sharq El Awsat, El Geel, El Qahira, Sout El Umma, Cairo Times, Ahram Weekly ,and Afaq Arabia.
Governmental newspapers also covered EOHR activities.
Examples are Al Ahram, Al Akhbar, and Al Messa.
Newspapers discussed the case of Ibn Khaldoun center, solidarity with the Palestinian rights, killing the Egyptian prisoners of war in 1956 & 1967, arresting journalists, the civil associations law, 'A knight without a horse' television show and the organization's opinion concerning this subject, and EOHR's opinion and stance towards the insulting Islam and Muslims.

Table (9): the reactions of the newspapers in 2002

5) The international activities of EOHR:
The organization has effectively participated in various Arabic and international meetings in order to support international activities toward human rights as follow:

6) Books and Publications

EOHR issued four (4) special books in 2002:

The annual report of EOHR entitled "The Human Rights Status in 2001"-written in Arabic
EOHR activities in the intellectual meeting no. 8 - written in Arabic
Defending human rights, part seven - written in Arabic
The annual report of the EOHR entitled "The Human Right State in 2001"-written in English