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EOHR condemns the Sharm el-Sheikh bombings
24/7/2005
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) condemns the Sharm el-Sheikh bombings in which 85 people lost their lives, among them seven foreigners, while two hundred were injured - according to the Egyptian security forces. EOHR calls upon the government to introduce new legislation to combat terrorism and speed up its steps towards political and constitutional reform.
EOHR confirms that the savage terrorist bombings violate people's right to life which is enshrined in the constitution and international human rights instruments. The authorities must take necessary and strict measures to arrest the perpetrators and offer them a free and fair trial respecting their rights and treating them in a humane manner refraining from inhumane and degrading treatment. EOHR also calls on the authorities to the necessity of avoiding the strategy implemented after the Taba bombings in which some 3000 people were arbitrarily arrested in Sinai without charges for a long time and suffered torture. Repeating this lead the country into a new wave of violence and counter-violence, despite the authorities' efforts to combat terrorism and protecting civilians, they also had to respect the perpetrators' rights to a free and fair trial which does not contradict with achieving security. The only way to achieve security is to respect human rights values and principles.
Regarding the disastrous consequences for the bombings, EOHR calls for the:
1) Introduction of a new legislation to combat terrorism which guarantees citizens' rights instead of law 97 [1992] - entitled "Counter-Terrorism Law" - which gives more power to security forces, and reduces the legal and judicial guarantees, imposes more restrictions over freedom of opinion and expression and diminishes the legacy of the political and partial performances.
2) Convention of an international counter-terrorism summit to define terrorism and establishing measures of international cooperation to combat terrorism. The international community must be held responsible to pressure occupied countries' self determination and prevent occupation forces from using force against civilians. The international community must also make terrorism perpetrated by individuals and war crimes committed by states and occupation forces.
3) Abolishing the state of emergency which has proved useless in combating terrorism, replacing emergency laws with criminal laws responsible for by-passing of the law. Detainees must be allowed a free and fair trial while torture and arbitrary arrests must be abolished.
4) Speeding up steps in the course of political and constitutional reform, establishing democracy and respecting the freedom and right of expressing opposing ideas and opinions and respecting human rights will be the safeguards against future terrorist attacks. Political and Constitutional reforms are the only path to solve the crises and problems Egypt faces today.
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