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Stop torture
Citizen dies after 8 days of detention in state security headquarters in Benha
The Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR) expresses its concern about the death of Mohamed As-Sayed Nagem, (30 years old) after his release from state security headquarters in Benha where he had been detained for 8 days consecutively without legal cause.
Information obtained by a fact-finding mission sent by EOHR to the deceased family's home to investigate the events show that he was arrested on 31/12/2003, and taken away to state security headquarters in Benha (despite his being confined to a wheelchair.) He was not presented with any clear charge, and remained the victim of illegal detention until his release on 6/1/2004 at around 7pm in a coma. He died the following morning.
EOHR has presented a number of statements to the responsible authorities demanding an inquiry, and also calling for measures to be taken against those responsible for the detention of Mohamed as-Sayed Nagem at the state security headquarters in Benha for 8 days. This is in accordance with article 25 of the criminal procedures code. No response to these statements has been received.
EOHR requests an immediate inquiry into these facts, and that the prosecutor general takes the corpse for an autopsy in order to ascertain the causes of death and to confirm what the investigation reveals. It also calls for the transfer of the officers responsible for the torture where these claims are substantiated.
Within this context the EOHR reaffirms its consistent demands for a reexamination of the legislative sanctions pertaining to the crime of torture, in the hope that this will lead to the stopping of these practices. It also reiterates the need for all state departments - and at the forefront of these the Ministry of the Interior - to take the necessary measures to stop torture.
EOHR has presented a proposal for the amendment of the law pertaining to penal sanctions and measures in order to bring Egyptian legislation into conformity with the Convention against Torture which Egypt has ratified. A number of deputies have presented this proposal to the People's Assembly on behalf of EOHR, where it is currently being discussed. They are: Doctor Hamdy Hassan, Hamadeen Sabahey, Abd el Aziz Shabaan and Doctor Ayman Nour.
EOHR renews its calls for solidarity with this proposal from civil society organisations, NGOs and international organisations while it is being discussed in front of the People's Assembly in an attempt to toughen penalties against perpetrators of the crime of torture until the protection of the right to liberty is realised, and civilians' personal security is not subject to continued violation by security forces.
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