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The Egyptian Organization for Human
Rights Condemns the Arrest of Mohamed Al Ashkar
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14/11/2006
EOHR expresses its worries concerning the arrest of engineer Mohamed Al Ashkar, the Kefayia Movement Coordinator in Giza and the head of the People's Committee on the Protection of Citizens, who was leading a campaign against adding cleanliness fees to the electricity bill.
On 12th November 2006, while walking in Champlion Street, Al Ashkar was surprised by plain-clothed persons stopping him and forced him to get in a car. Ashkar reached Haram Police Station at 3 o'clock in the afternoon and stayed there till 9 pm when he was taken in a tour along the Alexandria desert road and then taken back to the police station. In the next morning he was transported to 6 October Police Station, where he was presented to the Prosecution Office. Ashkar faced the following charges:
- Possessing publications
- Spreading false rumors
- Organizing demonstrations
- Insulting the head of the Cleanliness Association
After listening to his testimony, the Prosecutor Office decided to return him back to his detention till 14th November 2006.
EOHR expresses it's deepest sorrow concerning the continuation of persecuting reformists and human rights and democracy defenders in Egypt, and chasing down citizens because of their opinions and beliefs, criticizing the government, or expressing their opinion and ideas in peaceful means, including their right to peaceful assembly. Those reformists had always been a subject of different violations, such as arbitrary detention, torture, sever punishments according to notorious laws, or trying them before exceptional courts which lack fair trials standards.
In this context, EOHR views the arrest of Al Ashkar unconstitutional and contradicts with Article 47 which states:" Freedom of opinion shall be guaranteed. Every individual shall have the right to express his opinion and to publicise it verbally, in writing, by photography or by other means of expression within the limits of the law. Self criticism and constructive criticism shall guarantee the safety of the national structure.". Also international human rights documents stressed on the importance of freedom of expression, such as Article 19 of ICCPR which is ratified by Egypt.
EOHR demands the abolishment of all exceptional laws that violate the right to peaceful assembly, such as the Emergency Law, Law (10/1914) and Demonstrations Law (14/1923). These laws violates the right to political participation from one side, and freedom of assembly and expression from the other.
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