| The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights |
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Reports Introduction Part one Part two Part three
In Defense of the Right for Peaceful Demonstration A Report by the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights On Police Transgressions on the Right to Demonstrate Against the War Fourth: Torture Surveys done by EOHR indicate that some of those provisionally detained were tortured before and after prosecutors issued sentences of detention. EOHR feels that police officers (particularly those of the El Khalifa public prosecutor's office) intentionally tortured and treated poorly in other ways detainees. Victim testimonies indicate methods of torture included beatings, emotional abuse, threats of rape and fabricated further accusations. The following are paraphrased testimonies of some victims: Manal Khaled: Ms. Khaled indicated that when she was walking along Kasr El Einy street, she heard people calling her name. When she turned around, she found men trying to drag her into a car. When she resisted they called on a man named Hossam Bek Salama, who beat her on her face severely; she now has several bruises. He cursed at her and threatened to forcibly disrobe her, put her in inappropriate clothing and accuse her of being a prostitute. Her hands were bound, her eyes were blindfolded and she was transferred to a police station in Abdeen. She was tied to a staircase and left there until they transferred her to the Central Security Camp in Darrassa. From there she was taken to prosecutors at El Azbakeyya and finally to the El Khalifa public prosecutor's office. There she was beaten by a police commissioner and female prison guard (whose names she cannot recall). She was treated extremely harshly, her mobile phone was confiscated and one of the men beating her told her that even though she thought she was decent, that he would make her forget all about politics. Nevine Ahmed Samir Ms. Samir was arrested at Tahrir square, beaten and threatened with rape by police. Maryam Bakry (Student) Despite not being involved in any political activities, Ms. Bakry was accosted while trying to ride the bus with her friends. They were arrested, beaten and had her eyeglasses shattered. A female prison guard and others beat her and she was sexually molested by another officer. Zeyad El Alemy An attorney on the “Freedom’s Committee” at the lawyer’s syndicate, Mr. Alemy was among those arrested and attacked at the syndicate. He was badly beaten and injured along his left arm, and was transferred first to a central security camp in Darrassa, then to one in El Khalifa. The police commissioner questioned them upon their arrival, inquiring as to where the good and decent politically aware lawyers were. Another lawyer was disparagingly told to put out a cigarette he had just lit. When he complained about the tone in which he was addressed, he was beaten as well. All lawyers there were beaten at some point in the process. The police commissioner told them they had to confess to having damaged a car and motorcycles or else they would face more harm. One day later they were transferred to Tora prison, where they were then beaten again. Gamal Abdel Aziz On 21 March 2003 at 6:00 p.m. there was a meeting held at the lawyer’s syndicate to discuss defending arrested demonstrators. Mr. Aziz saw security forces entering the syndicate’s garden. Upon their arrival they began beating everyone present at the meeting, tying them up, and placing them in their cars. Mr. Aziz explained that a mistake had been made, and that he was not the man whose name had appeared in the newspapers (Gamal Abdel Aziz Abdel Rahman); his name was Gamal Abdel Aziz Eid Abdel Samad. Clearly the mistake happened as a result of the police’s rush to collect and accuse anyone of anything. Mr. Aziz testified that until 22 March 2003 he had been treated relatively properly but that after that point, when he was transferred to El Khalifa, he was beaten many times. He reiterated the incident involving the cigarette and recounted how the beating did not cease for a full day as a result. He also mentioned that when he threatened to tell the public prosecutor of the officer’s egregious conduct; he was cursed at in response. Here are some more facts on those involved: Hamada Aly Abdallah Age: 27 (1975) Profession(s): Employee at the Media Center of the Arab World; Manager at Hamdein Sebahy's Office Place of Residence: El Marg Place of Arrest: Before the lawyers' syndicate Date of Arrest: 21 March 2003 Place of Detention: Center of State Security Presented Before: Azbakeyya Prosecution Date of Presentation: 22 March 2003 Mr. Abdallah indicated that Mr. Sebahy asked him to meet him at the lawyer's syndicate. After he arrived he used the restroom and came out to find Mr. Sebahy being beaten by a group of men. Upon telling them they were beating a member of the People’s Assembly, he got beaten as well. They were both taken to El Azbakeyya prosecutor’s office, then to the El Khalifa prosecutor’s office where they were told to confess to arson (causing the destruction of a fire engine and two motorcycles). Mohamed Ibrahim Abdel Aaty (Not An Egyptian Resident) Profession: Journalist-In-Training Place of Arrest: Tahrir Square Date of Arrest: 21 March 2003 Place of Detention: Central Security Camp in the sixth district of Nasr City, the El Azbakeyya police station. He was then transferred to the El Azbakeyya prosecutor’s office. Injuries Sustained: Bruise beneath left eye (resulting from severe beatings by police) Manal Ahmed Mostafa Profession: Director’s Assistant Charges Lodged Against Her: v Participating in an assembly consisting of greater than five persons whose intent was to disturb public security and peace; v Attacking people and property; v Participating with others in spreading provocative propaganda aimed at disturbing public security; v Attacking on-duty police officers; v Interrupting public transportation; v Not carrying an identification card as Egyptians should Injuries Sustained: v Bruise beneath right eye; v Cuts along right hand; v Bruises along back, breast, stomach; v Bruises along right knee; v Bleeding of the nose and mouth; v Cut along the mouth and lower lip, toothaches Here is paraphrased testimony of an exchange at the Azbakeyya prosecutor’s office: on 21 March 2003: v Did Hazem El Sherbeeny arrest you? No, the one who arrested me was Hossam Salama. v What do you have to say about the accusations lodged against you? That you participated in interrupting public transportation. That is not true. v And what about spreading provocative propaganda and throwing stones at the police and at public and private property? That, too, is untrue. v And about the allegation that you did not stop your actions even after being told to do so? That is not true. Dr. Mona Moeen Mina Profession: Doctor Age: 45 Date of arrest: 21 March 2003 at 2 p.m. Place of arrest: Soliman Pasha Square Paraphrased testimony: She was walking on Soliman Pasha Street when she found a group of people beating a woman crying for help. When she tried to help they beat her as well and arrested her. She and others with her did not sleep as they were interrogated the entire night. Place of detention: First, El Zaher police station, then at a Central Security Camp in Darrassa. On 22 March 2003 she was sent to the prosecutor’s office Shady Gamal Asaad Age: 20 Profession: Editor in El Osbou' newspaper Place of arrest: In front of the lawyers' syndicate Date of arrest: 21 March 2003 at 6 p.m. Place of detention: Initially a Central Security Camp in Darrassa, but he got transferred to a Central Security Camp in Gabal Ahmar because the former was too crowded. The second day (in the morning) he was transferred to a police station at Gamaleyya, then to the prosecutor’s office in Gamaelyya on 22 March 2003. Assault: Beaten with sticks and fists all over his body Injuries Sustained: Bruises along the head El Farouk Omar Mohamed Zaky Aly Age: Profession: Student at the Faculty of Commerce, Al Azhar University Place of Arrest: Bus station in front of the lawyers’ syndicate Place of detention: Central security camp in Darrassa, then transferred to Gabal Ahmar, then to the Gamaleyya police station, finally to the Gamaleyya prosecutor’s office on 22 March 2003 Date of Arrest: 21/3/2003 Injuries: Bruises along the head, both legs and his jaw Tools used to beat him: Sticks used by security forces Magda Mohamed Abdel Rahman Osman Age: 34 Profession: Journalist for the El Araby the Nasserist newspaper Date of Arrest: 21 March 2003 at 2 p.m. Place of Arrest: A travel agency in Talaat Harb square Accusations lodged against her: v Damaging public property; v Beating and injuring 3 police officers such that they could no longer perform their duties; v Stealing a number of police shields; Paraphrased testimony of incident: A police officer dragged her by her hair all the way from Talaat Harb square to the American University in Cairo. He beat her the entire time with this stick and fists and sexually molested her. Injuries Sustained: Bruises along the back, left leg and hand; cut along upper lip and several facial bruises 1- Nevine Ahmed Samir Age: 35 Profession: Manager of Hamdein Sebahy’s office Place of Arrest: Tahrir square at noon Date of Arrest: 21 March 2003 Place of Detention: She was transferred by car to a central security office to the Abdeen police station where she was blindfolded and handcuffed. She was then transferred to a Central Security camps in Darrassa at 5:30 p.m. The next morning on 22 March 2003 at 6 p.m. she was again transferred to the El Azbakeyya police station and later El Azbakeyya prosecutors. Mohamed Ragheb Abdel Satar Age: 25 Profession: Journalist for the Al Ahaly newspaper Address: 27, Hassan Aly St., El Andalos, El Haram Place of Arrest: In front of the lawyers' syndicate Date of Arrest: 21 March 2003 Place of Detention: Gabal Ahmar Nasr City The next morning, on 22 March 2003, he was transferred to the El Gamaleyya police station and then to the El Gamaleyya prosecutor’s office. He was cruelly beaten with harsh instruments. Mahmoud Aly Mahmoud Age: 30 Profession: Driver Date of Arrest: 21 March 2003 Place of Arrest: Abdel Khalek Tharwat Street, in front of a metro station where he intended to go to his next destination. How he was assaulted: Beaten with sticks, chairs and bare hands Place of Detention: Central Security Camp in Darrassa |