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VII. The Right to Peaceful Assembly
Even though the Egyptian constitution has guaranteed in article 54 the right to peaceful assembly, which is also a right guaranteed by international covenants ratified by the Egyptian government, the EOHR confirms that the Egyptian government is in blatant violation of its constitutional and international obligations towards this right.
EOHR states that the Egyptian laws regarding this right, especially law number 10 of the year 1914, known as the Assembly Law, totally contradicts the constitutional and international principles.
The practice of freedom to meet, assemble and strike is still under threat by the security apparatus using armed security forces to disperse gatherings and demonstrations, which led in 2002 to the death of one student in Alexandria University and dozens injured.
The security forces also arrested dozens of citizens who were exercising their constitutional right of peaceful assembly.
In this chapter of the report, we present the violation of this right against Egyptian university students, representatives of political groups, and civil society by security forces using excessive force and random arrests on a number of demonstrators.
1. On 1 April 2002, Cairo University witnessed a peaceful demonstration by thousands of students denouncing the Israeli occupation force on Palestinian occupied territories.
A number of intellectuals and artists participated in this demonstration.
Anti-demonstration forces intervened to break up the demonstration.
Officers and soldiers surrounded the students and used sticks to separate them.
They also used tear gas bombs, which led to choking of many intellectuals and students.
Several students were arrested, accused of damaging public properties and the decision was taken to detain them.
2. On 9 April 2002, Alexandria University witnessed a peaceful demonstration by a large number of students aiming to move to the American Cultural Centre to present a petition against Powell's visit to the region.
The demonstrators announced that their demonstration would be peaceful. However, they were surprised when security forces began attacking them with sticks and water pipes, in addition to firing bullets.
Gunshots hit the student Muhammad al-Sakka, killing him, as well as injuring a number of students.
Hundreds of students were arrested and accused of disturbing public peace and they were detained to be referred to court.
3. On 21 May 2002, a large number of security forces and officers of the State Security Investigation Bureau gathered in front of the National Democratic Party's (NDP) headquarters to prevent a peaceful march against the occupation of Palestine.
Even though Al-Tagamuu party took all legal procedures for the march, they still met resistance.
4. On 3 October 2002, dozens of women, members of parties, occupational syndicates, and women's organizations, demonstrated in front of the American Embassy protesting the American Congress' decision to confirm Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
They raised banners protesting the American decision. When the security forces blocked the area surrounding the embassy, the demonstrators tried to leave the area to meet up with others demonstrating in front of Omar Makram Mosque, however, the forces surrounded them and prevented them from demonstrating.
5. On 12 October 2002, during the organization of a demonstration within the premises of the university, University Security Officers attacked a girl and insulted her with humiliating words.
Security Forces arrested this girl and several other students.
6. Al-Azhar University witnessed on 2 November 2002, a student demonstrations protesting the exclusion of certain students from the elections of the Student Union.
Students raised banners denouncing the decision of the university's administration.
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Copyright © 2002 EOHR. All rights reserved. 