The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights

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Torture in Egypt…an unchecked
phenomenon

Introduction:

Chapter one: The extent of torture in Egypt

Chapter two: Reasons for the spread of torture in Egypt

Chapter three: Efforts by EOHR to stop torture and raise awareness of it

Chapter four: Conclusions and recommendations

Chapter one
The extent of torture in Egypt

Torture in Egypt is no ordinary crime. Rather, in recent years it has reached a critical level which demands practical and speedy measures to counter it. Torture has become a practice which is systematically employed in the early stages of an investigation by police officers in the interrogation of those accused or suspected of a crime. Furthermore the use of torture is not restricted to political opponents but rather is employed against ordinary civilians. This is confirmed by the reports of international human rights groups such as the February 2004 Human Rights Watch report The Epidemic of Torture in Egypt. This report confirmed that torture is a persistent and widespread phenomenon in Egypt systematically practised by the police and security forces during their criminal investigations against ordinary citizens who find themselves in police custody.
Human Rights Watch demanded that the Egyptian Government acknowledge that the use of torture has widened and recognise its dangerous effects on Egyptian society and that it instigate a public and thorough investigation into its causes and solutions.

Amnesty International in its 2003 report similarly confirmed that the use of torture has become entrenched in detention centres and is used against both political activists and criminal suspects arrested during the course of criminal investigations.

A number of legal, practical and security factors have in one way or another contributed to forming an environment in which torture flourishes. This is in addition to the legal obstacles that prevent torture victims from seeking the prosecution of their torturers. Their sole recourse to justice lies in a civil claim. The criminal and moral responsibility of the practitioners of torture laid down in the law remains purely theoretical and is implemented only within the strictest limits. Article 232(2) of the Criminal Procedures Code prevents citizens from bringing cases directly against civil servants and police officers for crimes committed during the exercise of their functions.

In order to make clear the scale of the practice of torture in Egypt this section includes sample cases of torture collected between April 2003 and April 2004. The preparation of this report has made clear to EOHR the gravity of the practice of torture in Police Stations. Torture is a flagrant violation of the right to life, to freedom, to personal security and to bodily integrity - it annihilates the souls of its victims. It is entirely at odds with the role of the police officer stipulated in Egyptian legislation and the Constitution, and contradicts the duties of members of the police force laid down in international human rights instruments. Furthermore it contravenes the expected conduct of employees charged with implementing the law agreed on by the UN General Assembly in December 1979.

a. Fatal cases of torture recorded between April 2003 and April 2004

On the 23rd May 2003 6th October City police forces arrested Rizq while he was in the vicinity of a youth club in the city's Sixth District. He was detained for 6 days and subject to beatings and torture. On the 7th day he died after receiving an electric shock. According to information received from his family he had been tortured in order to make him confess to having committed a number of thefts.

On Friday the 30th June at 1 pm 6th October City police officers went to Rizq's house and arrested his father. He was detained in the Police Station until 5 pm when he was informed that his son had died following an electric shock received while he was in the bathroom and that his body had been taken to 6th October City's General Hospital.

At 6.30pm Rizq's sister and mother went to the hospital in order to seek permission to bury him but were refused entry into the hospital. His sister, accompanied by a lawyer, then went to the head of the Police Station and demanded an autopsy in order to determine the cause of her brother's death. She sent telegrams to the Interior Minister and the Prosecutor General. On the 31st May 2003 Rizq's sister managed to secretly enter the hospital. She found injuries all over brother's body, some of which included:

The family submitted a report to the 6th October City Prosecutor General

When the incidents concerned occurred Zayed was working as a volunteer soldier in Menya al-Qamah Police Station in the Sharqiyya governorate and was assigned to guard duty of the weapons store. During his watch a weapon was stolen. Captain Walid Salama, an officer from the Investigations unit and Colonel Magdy Abu Halima, Deputy Chief of the Police Station beat Zayed and gave him electric shocks. He died the same day as a result of this torture. In order to make his death look like a suicide his body was taken to the soldiers' dormitory and hung from the roof.

According to statements made by his family Zayed's body bore several wounds:

Bruising to his lower back

Bruising to the bridge of his nose
There were no physical indications of suicide such as bulging eyes or lolling of the tongue.

Action taken by the family
The family presented complaints to the public prosecution office which summoned the forensic doctor who in his report confirmed the complete absence of any evidence that Zayed had committed suicide.
Action taken by EOHR
EOHR presented a complaint to the Prosecutor General and Interior Minister.

3) Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed Amr 35 years old, from al-Mahalla al-Kubra City. On the 2nd July 2003 Abdel Ghany Rashad head of the al-Mahalla al-Kubra investigations unit arrested Amr without a valid legal reason. He was detained for three weeks. Part of his detention was spent in a room known as the "Fridge" (an empty room where investigations are carried out). He was subjected to torture several times. Abdel Ghany injected him in the sole of his right foot with a dirty hypodermic needle which led to serious complications. He contracted Gangrene and blood poisoning and was consequently taken to the al-Mahalla al-Kubra district hospital which transferred him to Samanoud public hospital. He died four days later after a serious drop in blood pressure caused by blood poisoning.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR presented a complaint to the Prosecutor General and Interior Minister.

On the 9th September 2003 forces from State Security Investigations arrested a group of Al-Azhar students in the village of Tobhar in connection with the spreading of Internet messages encouraging hatred of Israel and America. One of those arrested was Ahmed as-Sayyed Abdel Sattar, the younger brother of the deceased. On the 12th September security forces arrested al-Rouby without a legal reason and seized his passport.

On the 14th the Fayyoum state security investigations unit summoned al-Roubi's father to their headquarters where he met an officer called Marawan and Mohamed Mahmoud, a police assistant. They informed him that his son was ill. When al-Rouby's father asked to see his son the officer looked uneasy which prompted him to ask whether his son had died. The officer confirmed that this was the case and added that he had hung himself inside the Police Station.

Al-Rouby's father said in his statement: "I was filled with worry about what had happened to my son. The state security investigations unit gave me permission to bury my son very quickly. The death was announced in the village by amplifiers and village residents waited for the funeral in the west of the village, which is the natural route for anyone coming from Fayyoum to take. However the security forces entered the village from the west and proceeded directly to the burial ground. My son was buried in the middle of the night under spotlights. His family were not able to walk in his funeral procession."

The deceased's cousin Wagdy Ahmed al-Rouby was the only member of the family to see the corpse after the postmortem. He said: "There were no marks of suicide on the body. The doctor who examined the body opened it from the lower lip to his navel. A horizontal cut was made to his head which is a departure from the usual horizontal cut made to the top of the forehead. This makes me think that somebody was trying to conceal evidence of a crime committed against my cousin." The deceased's brother says: "There was pressure on my family. My younger brother Ahmed and my cousin Mohamed Khaled are still detained in the state security unit. They may be released soon on condition that my family stay silent."

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR presented a complaint to the Prosecutor General and Interior Minister

On the 13th September 2003 as-Sayed was summoned to Hadeyak al-Qubba Police Station by the State Security Investigations Unit. When he went the next day he was questioned about his brother Sameh and told to return to the investigations unit the next day with his brother. His ID card was taken from him. The two brothers returned to the Police Station on the 15th but were released and told to return the following day. On the 16th they returned and were detained until the 21st. During their detention as-Sayed's wife went to visit him and found him extremely tired and unable to stand up. He told her "Pray for me, I can't take any more of this torture." When she went to see him the next day he was even worse and there was bruising to his face. On the same day his sister-in-law visited him he had to be carried in to see him as he was unable to walk because of the torture he had endured. He told her: "Pray for me that God eases my suffering".

On Friday his wife went to visit him again and gave him painkillers, antibiotics and ointments for his injuries. His condition had worsened. On Sunday when she went to visit him she did not find him and was informed that he had been taken to National Security Office at Lazoughaly in order to complete some procedures.

When she returned home she found that her father-in-law had received a phone call from the Chief of the Hadeyak al-Qubba Police Station telling him to come to the station to collect his son. When he went to the station he found a car waiting for him containing two officers who took him to Hadeyak al-Qubba public prosecution office. There the Attorney General questioned him about the health of his son and whether he suffered from any illnesses to which as-Sayed's father replied in the negative. He then returned to the Police Station where the station Chief told him "your son is a bit ill and in al-Sahel Hospital. Go to see him at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning."

He went the next day as instructed accompanied by as-Sayed's wife. They did not find his name recorded in the Hospital register but rather on the Hospital computer. They were shocked to hear that he had died and that his body had been taken to Zeinhum post-mortem centre.

The family's complaint listed the following injuries to the body:

Removal of the fingernails

Bruising and various injuries to the scalp

Bruising and grazing all over the body
Action taken by the family The family presented a complaint to the public prosecutor and Interior Minister. Investigations are still ongoing.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR presented a complaint to the Prosecutor General and Interior Minister.

On the 4th October 2003 Mohamed was arrested by policemen stationed at Sayeda Zeinab as he was returning from work and taken to the Police Station. He was detained there until the 7th and during his detention beaten and tortured by Yasser al-Fiqhy, a senior police officer in Sayeda Zeinab investigations unit.

Residents of the area where the deceased lived including some of his relatives heard that he had been tortured. Severe beating in the genital area had apparently led to haemorrhaging and bleeding from the mouth. This beating took place in the investigations room known as the "Fridge" after which he was taken to the detention area where other detainees changed his clothes. He died as a result of the torture. Marks on his corpse including bruising to the pelvis and knee reveal that Mohamed had suffered numerous injuries.

Sayeda Zeinab residents gathered in front of the Police Station after hearing about the death. They waited some 15 minutes before being dispersed by security forces. Action taken by the family
The family sent a complaint to the Prosecutor General.
Action taken by EOHR
EOHR presented a complaint to the Prosecutor General and Interior Minister.

7) Mohamed Hassan Hassan Abdallah A 55 year old watchmaker from Ein Shams, Cairo.
On the 3rd January 2004 Abdallah was stopped in the street by members of the Azbekeya police force. They arrested him and took him to the Azbekeya Police Station where they detained him without justification or legal cause. He died at dawn the next day inside the Police Station. The family found the following injuries on his corpse:

Bruising and injuries to the scalp

Bruising to the back

Bruising and grazing to the neck
Action taken by the family
The family presented a complaint to the prosecution office requesting that it launch an investigation. Sergeant Ashraf Fathy al-Ganzoury was charged with assault and torture leading to death. He was detained for 15 days during the investigation. The Prosecution Office also appointed a forensic doctor to determine the cause of death.

Action taken by EOHR EOHR presented complaints to the Interior Minister and the Prosecutor General.

On the 12th December 2003 al-Sherif was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of assault. He was brought before the Sherbeen Prosecution Office which decided to detain him during the course of the investigation. He was detained at Sherbeen Police Station. During his detention investigations officers subjected him to electric shocks and burnt him with cigarettes. He was also punched, kicked and hung from a door after being stripped naked and beaten with a stick.

He suffered the following injuries as a result of this torture:

Burns to the right hand and left palm

Extensive bruising to the back

Injuries to the nose

Partial paralysis: al-Sherif lost movement in both feet

On the 15th January 2004 al-Sherif was transferred to Sherbeen Hospital. The Hospital refused to accept him because of his severe injuries and paralysis caused by the torture. They returned him to the Police Station where he remained without receiving any medical treatment until his death on the 19th January 2004. A District Attorney inspected the injuries and sent the corpse for forensic examination.

Action taken by the family His family raised a complaint with the Public Prosecution Office which is still pursuing its investigations into the case.

Action taken by EOHR EOHR presented complaints to the Prosecutor General and Interior Minister.

On the 15th October 2003 the al-Mahal al-Kubra Judicial Verdicts Implementation Unit arrested Nassar in pursuance of a six year imprisonment verdict and 10,000 LE fine issued against him by the North Cairo Court. He was taken to the transfers section of Tanta Police Station no. 2. On the 18th October he was taken to the Khalfiyya Transfers Section in Cairo. According to his brother Salah Mohamed Ahmed (who was with his brother until his transfer to Khalfiyya Transfers Section) Nassar was in good health when he left him. The following morning Ahmed went to ask after his brother but police officers denied that he was in their custody. This prompted him to make inquiries in the appeals prison and al-Sahal Police Station. He found him in the Police Station in extremely bad health with wounds behind the right ear and to the back.

Police Station officers attempted to eject Nassar's family and his lawyers from the Police Station. They kept Nassar in detention, in iron shackles while he was close to death. It was only upon the insistence of his family that an ambulance was called to take him to al-Khazandara where he died upon arrival on the evening of the 19th October. The medical report produced by the hospital recorded only a small 4 cm wound to his back and did not state the cause of death. The post mortem similarly stated that his corpse did not bear any wounds and was in rigor mortis. It gave the cause of death as a heart attack caused by a dramatic drop in blood pressure.

Action taken by the family
The family presented complaints to al-Sahel prosecution office which is still conducting its investigations.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR presented complaints to the Prosecutor General and Interior Minister.

On the 19th May 2003 Shalaby's father found a group of officers from the Heliopolis Police Station led by Investigations Chief Officer Hossam Hanafy in front of his house. They took him to Heliopolis Police Station in order for him to collect his son who had been injured after being hit by a car in Higaz Square, Heliopolis. While he was in the Police Station a police officer obliged him to sign a document which turned out to be a form confirming receipt of his son's body.

The family found the following injuries on Shalaby's body:

Bruising to the right eye
Bruising to the rear of the head
Bruising to the jaw

The Heliopolis Hospital report stated that it was difficult to determine the cause of death but that there were injuries to the body indicating the possibility that a crime may have been committed.

Action taken by the family
The family presented complaints to the Prosecutor General which decided to appoint a forensic doctor to conduct a post mortem. His report did not specify the cause of death. According to the family the Prosecutor General decided to suspend the investigation.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR presented complaints to the Prosecution General and the Interior Minister.

Saqr had been sentenced to a term of imprisonment in Abu Zabal Prison. During his detention he was mistreated and beaten which led to his death.

Action taken by the family
The family presented a complaint to Khanka Police Station, Cairo. Saqr's body was given a post mortem which confirmed the presence of injuries all over the body. Investigations were suspended after this however.
Action taken by EOHR EOHR presented complaints to the Prosecutor General and Interior Minister.

12) As-Sayyed Moustafa Moussa
A 35 year old coffee shop employee from Giza. On the 15th February 2004 Moussa was arrested by a Detective called Ashraf based al-Baragil Police Station pursuant to an in absentia prison sentence issued against him for a fraud crime. He was beaten during his arrest and detained in Awsim Police Station. During his detention he was punched and kicked in order to force him to inform the police officers of the whereabouts of his wife who had also had a prison sentence issued against her. As a result of the beatings Moussa suffered injuries to his right ankle. During his appearance in court he told his brother Mamdouh Moustafa about what had happened to him during his detention. The latter consequently asked the Chief of Awsim Investigations Unit to transfer Moussa to hospital for treatment.

On the 19th March 2004 Moussa was taken to Aswim General Hospital for treatment but returned to the Police Station the same day. He was detained for a further two days until he died on the 21st March. When the family collected Moussa's corpse for burial they found injuries to his back.

Action taken by the family
The family presented a complaint to the Public Prosecution requesting that they investigate Moussa's death. The Public Prosecution sent his body for a post mortem.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR sent complaints to the Public Prosecution, the Interior Minister and the Head of the Public Department for Inspections within the Interior Minister.

On the 27th October 2003 policemen in civilian clothes burst into Tammam's home in order to arrest his oldest son Ramadan on a charge of burning a hut. Tammam attempted to question them about what authority they had from the Prosecutor General and demanded that they show him their credentials. The men attacked Tammam and his family and fired shots into the air in order to disperse bystanders.

A Police Investigations Unit assistant Walid al-Shebrawy beat Tammam with a pistol on his chest until he lost consciousness. When the family tried to pick him up from the ground and seek medical assistance they were prevented from doing so. Tamman died instantly. The police then randomly arrested anyone they encountered in the area. They arrested Ramadan Mahmoud Mohamed, Mohamed Ibrahim Moustafa, Ashraf Ibrahim Moustafa and Wael Aly Abdel Aziz They conducted investigations with the deceased's son Mohamed Mahmoud who was forced to make a statement saying that his father had died from natural causes in return for the release of his brother and the others in detention.

Action taken by the family The family presented a complaint to the Public Prosecutor and Head of Cairo Security.

Action taken by EOHR EOHR presented complaints to the Prosecutor General and Interior Minister and sent a fact finding fact-finding mission.

14) Masaad Sayyed Mohamed Qutb A 43 year old accountant with the General Union of Accountants resident near Imbaba airport. On the 1st November 2003 State Security Investigation forces arrested Qutb and led him to state security headquarters in Dokki where he was detained on a charge of belonging to the Islamic Brotherhood group. During the period of his detention he was severely tortured, which led to his death on the 4th November.

According to statements made by his Qutb's family his body bore several wounds:

Bruising above the right eyebrow and blood clotting to the lower lip
Bruising to the right wrist
Bruising on the lower right arm
Evidence blood clotting in the lower part of the back

Action taken by family
The family presented a complaint to the Public Prosecutor whose investigations confirmed the presence of injuries on the body. Forensic examinations have been carried out and investigations are still continuing.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR presented a complaint to the Public Prosecutor and Interior Minister.

On the 21st January 2003, el Sayed was alighting from a taxi when a microbus taxi stopped him and asked for proof of identity. Frightened, el Sayed tried to flee. This prompted Chief Officer Emad Abd El Zaher to open fire, injuring el Sayed. He was carried to the main university hospital, but died before reaching hospital.

Hospital management informed the Prosecutor General's Office of the death and an investigation was begun. The Prosecutor General appointed a forensic doctor to conduct an autopsy and examine weapons in order to ascertain their condition, type and the appropriateness of their use and whether any of the guns were used to fire the fatal shot.

The forensic doctor's report attributed the cause of death to the gunshot wound which caused broken bones, laceration of blood vessels, a pierced lung and haemorrhaging.

The pistol seized was a 9 mm automatic in perfect working order. The positive trace taken from each gun barrel indicated the presence of gunpowder left behind without smoke after the gun was fired, possibly around the time that el Sayed died.

The Prosecutor General approved the public prosecution's demand that the accused Officer be tried on a charge of causing the death of el Sayed. The trial began on the 26/2/2004.

b. Torture in Police Stations

On the 1st August 2003 while he was in the Khalifa Police Station dealing with probation matters, two policemen questioned him about drug dealers in Sayeda Aisha. Bayounmy knew nothing about them and as a result the policemen took him to Assitant Detective Hisham Helal who again questioned him about the matter. Bayoumy repeated his total ignorance of the drug dealers, as a result of which the Assitant Detective beat his head with a stick and detained him in the investigation room where a policeman called Mostafa tied his hands behind his back and hung him on the window. Assitant Detective Hisham Mortada poured alcohol and boiling water mixed with salt on his body, causing:

Serious burns on his chest
Burns on the neck
Burns to the back

Action taken by the family
The family sent a report to the Khalfiyya Prosecutor's Office.
Procedures taken by EOHR
EOHR dispatched a fact-finding mission and presented reports to the Prosecutor General, Interior Minister and the Cairo Chief of Security. However on the 13th February 2004 a policeman named Essam from the Judicial Verdict Implementation Unit within the Police Station summoned Bayoumy to the Police Station. He was absent at this time and an in absentia sentence of 3 months imprisonment was issued against him. When he went to Khalifa Police Station he was detained and a charge of cannabis dealing was fabricated against him. He was presented to the Public Prosecutor's Office which ordered that he be imprisoned for 4 days. On the 17th his imprisonment was renewed pending the result of the investigation.

When Bayoumy's mother Atta Mohamed visited him, she found him in a state of extreme exhaustion, and was surprised by burn marks on his chest and neck. He told her that a police officer, Hisham Helal, had beaten him with a stick and poured boiling water on his chest.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR reported a complaint to the Public Prosecution Office which sent Bayoumy for medical examination in order to corroborate his injuries. It was decided that he should be presented to the prosecution after 3 months.

On the 23rd July 2003 members of the Maadi police force under the leadership of Officer Taha Khater Abdel Fattah broke into his home and arrested him. They then took him to the Police Station and proceeded to beat him and strike him using a sharp object. Policemen insulted, swore at and beat him resulting in the following injuries:

Abrasions and bruising to the right and left arms.

Abrasions to the back, bruising to both feet and in different parts of his body.
Action taken by the family
The family reported to Cairo Security Department as he was transferred to Ahmed Maher Hospital to be examined and to affirm his injuries.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR dispatched a fact-finding mission and presented reports to the Vice Prosecutor General of the International Cooperation and Prisoners Care, the Cairo Security Chief, the Managing Director of Inspection and Control in the Ministry of Interior and Minister of Interior).

In 2003 al Sayed was brought before the Public Prosecutor who released him on a 500 LE bail. He was transferred to Helwan Police Station where he was detained for four days, during which he was punched, beaten with a stick, kicked and whipped by Assitant Detective Ahmed Samir, Officer Mohamed Hammad and other policemen in the Police Station, causing the following injuries:

Bleeding in the right eye.

Abrasions to the right shoulder.

Bruises and abrasions to the back.

Procedures taken by EOHR
EOHR presented reports to the Assistant Prosecutor General of the Department for International Cooperation and Prisoners Care, the Cairo Security Chief, the Ministry of Interior and the Interior Minister.

Ali was arrested in front of his house by members of the Sharabeya force and taken to the Police Station. The officer in duty, Haytham Zaghloul, beat him and took him to a shop in Emam El Hosseiny Street, where Lieutenant Samir Abd El Moneem kicked him and put his shoe on his head. Ali suffered the following injuries:

Longitudinal abrasions in both arms and thighs

A cut under the left eye and bruising around the eye. Action taken by the family
The family sent a report to the Security Department on the 19th June 2003.
Action taken by EOHR
EOHR sent complaints to the Prosecutor General, the Interior Minister and Cairo Security Department.

Officers from State Security Investigations forces burst into Khalifa's house, arrested him and took him to the State Security Investigations Office in Gaber Ibn Hayan where he was detained for ten days. Police officers Hosam Abdel Halim, Hassan Abdel Hamid, Islam Abdel Rahman and other policemen blindfolded him, insulted him, beat his face and head, kicked his back and thighs, stripped him naked and struck him in sensitive parts of his body, which resulted in the following injuries:

Injuries to his genitals and thighs.

Reddening of his right and left calf muscles, and atrophy in the left calf muscle.

Pain in the thorax. Action taken by the family
The family sent a report to Doqqi Police Station. The report was presented to the Public Prosecution which examined the victim and his injuries.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR sent complaints to the Minister of Interior, Giza Security Chief and the Prosecutor General. 6) Nagdy Mohamed Gad and Issa Ali Mohamed
Residents of Luxor.
On the 14th May 2003 Gad and Mohamed went to Luxor's Traffic Unit to complete some procedures. An argument broke out between them and others present in the Unit. They were taken to the Traffic Investigations Unit where Madgy Awad, Head of the Luxor Traffic Investigations Unit charged them with the theft of some money. After they refused to sign the police statement a policeman tied their hands and legs with iron chains, beat Gad and threw boiling water over him leading to extensive burns. Action taken by EOHR
EOHR presented a complaint to the Public Prosecutor, Interior Ministry and head of the Department for Inspection and Control within the Interior Ministry.

7) Al Said Yasin Abdel Aziz
A 50 years old retired police officer assistant from Dakahleya Governorate.
On the 15th July 2003 officers from the Aga police force broke into his house and took him to their headquarters. There, Chief Officer Mahmoud Hamdy and his two assistants Moawad Al Mohamady and Atef Al Basrawy tied his hands behind his back, threw him facedown on the floor, put a shoe in his mouth, beat and whipped him and hung him from behind. He suffered the following injuries:

Bruising to the left side of his face behind the ear.

Bruising to his left foot.

Bruises under his right hand joint.

Bruises to his right knee. Action taken by the family The family reported to the Prosecutor General and the victim was presented to the Tertiary Committee in Aga Central Hospital.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR sent complaints to the Prosecutor General and the Interior Minister.

8) Safaa Mohamed Ali Mahmoud
A 37 year old housewife from Al Sharabeya.
On the 15th June 2003 members of the Sharbeya police force broke into Mahmoud's house and took her to the Police Station. There her veil was removed and she was blindfolded, beaten and insulted. After two days she was taken to a shop called Al Shaymaa where a police officer called Abd Al Moneem beat her and insulted her.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR dispatched a fact-finding mission and sent complaints to the Interior Minister and Prosecutor General.
9) Hossan Al Sayed Mohamed Amer
A 39-year-old owner of a car spare parts shop from Mansoura.

In his statement to EOHR Amer says: "Around five o'clock in the morning on the 8th October 2003 I arrived in Cairo coming from Mansoura in a taxi when a dispute broke out between myself and the driver. We went to Azbakeya Police Station where 1st Lieutenants Omar Seoudy and Yasser Al Tawil made fun of me and mistreated me - they beat me as a result of which I threatened that I would go on a hunger strike. That's when the situation got worse. They beat me, kicked me and hit me with a gun until I fell to the ground, but they didn't stop. They continued to beat me, spit on me and hit my head against the wall until I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I found myself laying on my side, my hands and feet tied with a metal chain. They spat on me and poured tea leftovers on my face and clothes. They threatened to arrest me and my family, to humiliate me, to rape my family and torture us. Afterwards I was taken to the Azbakeya Public Prosecutor's Office where they ordered that I be released and taken for medical examination because of my wounds. But both police officers took me to the Police Station again where I was detained for four days, from the 8th to the 12th.

On the evening of the 8th October 2003, after returning from the Azbakeya Public Prosecutor's Office to the Police Station, police officers led me to a corridor behind the custody toilets. There they threw me - my hands and feet bound - on the floor and kicked all over my body but in particular my left kidney. As they were doing so they were warning each other not to injure me. I lost
consciousness because of the extreme pain. In order to wake me up, they poured dirty toilet water over me and in my mouth. They then they poured dirty water in my nose until I choked and had to swallow it. Afterwards, they plunged me in a blocked toilet full of water and rubbish, and as the water dried, they threw cockroaches on my body and face. They repeated this "torture party" many times, twice on the 9th, twice on the 10th and once on the 11th at night.

On the 11th, in the morning, things were different. They threw me in a prisoner van full of car tyres, with my hands and feet tied. They drove the van fast and then stopped suddenly so that the tyres would knock into me. On the morning of the 12th, the same police officers released me from custody, took the chains off my right hand and attached my left wrist to a high place so that I was hung in the air. I felt that my hand was almost paralyzed and lost consciousness. I woke up and found myself lying on a sidewalk next to Khalifa Police Station where a policeman threw clean water on my face to bring me round - this was the first clean water they used. I was referred to the Khalifa Transfers Section from where I was taken Mansoura Second Ward which transferred me to Al Salam Hospital in Mansoura on the 13th October at noon."

Action taken by the family
The family sent telegrams to the Interior Ministry, Prosecutor General and President.
Action taken by EOHR
EOHR sent complaints to the Prosecutor General, Interior Minister and Cairo Security Chief.
10) Mahmoud Hamed Ahmed
From Rod Al Farag.
On the 13th May 2003 a dispute broke out in Ahmed's neighborhood while he was passing by. A policeman summoned him but Ahmed informed him that he didn't have anything to do with the dispute, to which the policeman responded by slapping him on the face and beating him. When Ahmed tried to object to this treatment, other policemen gathered round him, beat him and took him to a police officer present in the area who placed him in a police van. Pursuant to commands from police officers Tamer Ewais and Alaa Khalaf Alla, Ahmed was stripped, humiliated, beaten and insulted. Afterwards, he was taken to Rod Al Farag Police Station where he was released without being presented to the Prosecutor's Office or finding out the reason for his detention.

Action taken by EOHR
The family sent complaints to the Prosecutor General, Interior Minister and Cairo Security Chief.
11) Mabrouka Ibrahim Meselhy
A 60 year old housewife from Kafr El Sheikh.

Meselhy says in her statement to an EOHR representative: "On the 16th September 2003 a force from the Kafr Shokr Police Station composed of four detectives and two police officers (Chief Officers Yasser Sobhi and Ayman Al Nabawy) broke into my house in order to arrest my son Zaid Ahmed Sayed Ahmed. When I told them that I didn't know where he was, they didn't believe me. They searched the house and when they didn't find him, they whipped and kicked me, and then took me to the Police Station where they again whipped and kicked me. They then fabricated a charge that I had hidden my son and beaten a guard, and sent me to the Public Prosecutor's Office where I lost consciousness. I was taken to Kafr Shokr Hospital for five days".

Meselhy suffered the following injuries:

Swelling and bruising around both eyes.
Wounds and bruises to the head
Grazes to the left shoulder from whipping.
Wounds and abrasions on the right shoulder.
Abrasions on the thighs from whipping.

Action taken by the family
The family sent complaints to the Public Prosecutor's Office and she was taken for medical examination.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR sent a fact-finding mission to Kafr Shokr, and presented reports to the Prosecutor General and the Interior Minister. The Prosecutor General launched an investigation into the Police Officers' actions.

12) Hamdy Youssef Mohamed Ahmed
From the Pyramids area.

On the 24th September 2003 members of the Judgment Implementation Unit based at Haram Police Station arrived at Ahmed's home in order to collect a one hundred pounds fine issued against him. Despite Ahmed's having already paid the fine, he was surprised when the Judgement Implementation Unit refused to give him proof of payment. His insistence on having this proof prompted the police officers to destroy the contents of his house and assault him, his son Karam Hamdy Youssef and his nephew Essam Mahmoud who they punched and hit with a car jack and gun barrel. They were taken to Haram Police Station where they were detained inside the Police Station office and repeatedly beaten causing the following injuries:

Three broken teeth.
Essam Mahmoud's right wrist was broken
Swelling in the shoulders and the body of both victims.
Bruising to the back and chest of both victims.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR sent complaints to the Prosecutor General, Interior Minister, Head of the Inspection and Control Unit within the Ministry of Interior and Giza Security Chief. The Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation and sent both victims for medical examination in order to substantiate their injuries.

13) Torture in Giza Police Station:
Amr Sayed Zaki Morsy, a 22 year old merchant from Giza.
On the 19th March Morsy was arrested by a group of police officers based at Giza Police Station led by Assitant Detective Sameh Darwish. He was taken to Giza Police Station office where he was detained, and the next day presented him to the Public Prosecution Office which imprisoned him for four days while the investigation was carried out. On the 23rd the Public Prosecution prolonged his imprisonment for fifteen days.

On the 30th arresting officers Sherif, Alaa Osman and Ahmed Osman summoned him and detained him in the women's custody section after first sending the detained women out. The officers beat and tortured him using the following methods:

Beating with a stick all over the body.
Pouring boiled water on the neck and chest
Cigarette burns to the left thigh
Burns to the neck and left shoulder.
Bruises to the stomach
Bruises and abrasions to the legs

Action taken by the family
Morsy's mother was shocked by his injuries when she visited him in prison and so reported a complaint to the head of Giza Police Station who transfered Morsy to Om Al Masreyin Hospital for treatment. At the same time Morsy's brother filed a request with Giza Prosecution Office for an investigation. The Public Prosecution decided - on the basis of what was stated in the testimony of Morsy's family - to transfer the victim for forensic examination in order to corroborate his injuries.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR sent complaints to the Prosecutor General, Interior Ministry, Managing Director of Inspection and Control in the Interior Ministry and the Attorney General of south Giza Prosecution Office.

14) Torture in Kalyoub Police Station:
Ragab Said Mohamed Sayed from Kalyoub.

On the 8th November Sayed was arrested by two detectives from the Kalyoub Investigations Centre. He was taken to the Kalyoub Police Station where a number of convictions were recorded on his criminal record - despite the fact that he had committed no crime. While in detention he was forced to take off his clothes and was punched, kicked and whipped by the station detectives which caused the following injuries:

Bruises and abrasions to the back and left shoulder.

Bruising to the back caused by whipping

Action taken by the family
The family filed complaints with the Kalyoub Security Chief, the Interior Minister, the President's Office and Prime Minister's Office.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR filed complaints with the Prosecutor General, the Interior Minister and Kalyoub Security Chief and sent a fact-finding mission to investigate the events.

15) Torture by a patrol officer:
Mohamed Morsy Saleh, 26 years old from the Pyramids area

On the13th April 2004, while Saleh was in a market with his cousin Abdel Rahman Mostafa Abdel Rasoul a patrol policeman passing by insulted them which led to a confrontation between the three men. The policeman pistol whipped Saleh on his forehead, fired shots in the air to terrify bystanders and fired a shot at Saleh's right leg which hit him in his ankle. He tied his hands and attached him to his motorcycle, then dragged him along on the ground out of the market area. Immediately after this the Saleh's sister, Samah headed towards him to check on him. The policeman beat her, tearing her clothes. Salah went to Al Haram Hospital where they refused to receive him before he reported to Haram Police Station. Doctor Mohamed Salah Mohamed stated in his medical report that the Saleh had injuries to his left leg and a gunshot wound to his left foot had a gunshot wound to his left foot. According to his family Saleh also incurred several injuries following the assault:

A gunshot wound to the right foot joint.

10 cm wound to the calf muscle of the left foot.

A cut to the forehead. Action taken by the family
The family presented a complaint to Haram Police which investigated:
1. The use of firepower to terrify bystanders
2. Salah's assault and the shot fired at him.

The investigation is still in progress.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR send complaints to the Prosecutor General, the Interior Minister and the Managing Director of Inspection and Control in the Ministry of Interior. It also dispatched a fact-finding mission.

16) Mohamed and Ahmed Tawfik Mohamed
Students in their early twenties at Helwan University from Ein Shams, Cairo.
On the 3rd April 2004 a force from Ein Shams Police Station led by First Lieutenant Sherif Nassar broke into the victims' house and took them to Ein Shams Police Station. They detained the men in custody after removing all other prisoners. The police were acting at the request of Mohamed Moheb Osman, residing at the house of the complainants. Lieutenant Nassar punched and kicked them and whipped them with a thick leather belt feet and a large leather belt of a soldier, which resulted in the following injuries:

Inflammation marks to the foot from beating.

Abrasions marks in the left eye.

Injuries in the upper jaw of a complainant (Mohamed Tawfik).

The next day, the two victims were presented to the public prosecution after accusations were fabricated against them.
Action taken by the family
The two victims' family sent telegrams to the Interior Minister.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR sent complaints to the Prosecutor General, the Interior Minister, Cairo Security Chief and the Managing Director of Inspection and Control in the Ministry of Interior.
Cairo internal security and the ministry of interior interrogated the complainants and heard the witnesses' testimony.

17) Khaled Abdel Naby
An 18 year old baker from Fayed city in Ismaleya.

On the 13th March 2004 Abdel Naby was arrested by Emad Abd El Fattah, investigations chief of Fayed Police Station and by a detective called Said while he was returning home. They claimed that a charge had been raised against him. He was taken to al Fanara Police Station where he was detained in an individual cell and punched and kicked and beaten with sticks and electric wires all over his body by four detectives from the Police Station office and by a policeman called Abdel Maksoud. He eventually lost consciousness.

When he came to he found that his clothes were on fire. Hysterical, he called for help from the officers in al Fanara Police Station. El Naby was forced to sign papers before they agreed to take him to hospital for treatment. He was transferred, handcuffed, to al Fanara hospital in a police van, but the hospital refused to receive him because of the seriousness of his case. He was then taken to Fayed Central Hospital which sent him to Ismaleya University Hospital. He suffered the following injuries:

Severe burns to the hands and face.

Burns to the neck. The public prosecution investigated the incident and listened a second time to el-Naby's testimony -which contradicted his previous testimony and what police officer Emad Abd El Fattah had fabricated against him in the investigation report.

Action taken by the family
The family lodged complaints with the officials responsible for the investigation.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR sent complaints to the Prosecutor General, the first general attorney of Ismaleya Prosecution Office the Interior Minister, the Managing Director of Inspection and Control in the Ministry of Interior and Ismaleya Security Chief. It also dispatched a fact-finding mission.

18) Khaled Abdel Moneem Mostafa Ebeid
38 years old, from Imbaba.

On the 6th April 2004 while Ebeid was detained in Imbaba Police Station Office in connection with a case he was accused in, he was tortured by Assistant Officer Ali Khalil, Police Officer Mohamed Nyazy and policeman Abdel Raouf in order to force him to sign a report. They punched and kicked him and hit him with sticks all over his body causing several injuries:

Swelling to the face.

Bruising around the eyes.

Abrasions and bruises to the back. Action taken by the family
Ebeid's brother Ossama Abdel Moneem reported a complaint to Giza Internal Security Department. Ebeid was transferred to Tahrir Central General Hospital for medical examination where a medical report was carried out. When the Police Station Chief Assistant was presented with the report he tore it up and ordered that Ebeid be transferred to Imbaba General Hospital for reexamination.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR sent complaints to the Prosecutor General, the Interior Minister, Managing Director of Inspection and Control in the Ministry of the Interior and Attorney General of South Giza Prosecution Office.

19) Karim Abdel Salam
A 16 year old barber from at Emam el Shafey.
On the 13th January 2004 while Abdel Salam was returning from work in Maadi, a force from Maadi Police Station led by Police Officer Mohamed Abdel Salam arrested him. They took him to Maadi Police Station where he was detained on a spurious charge of drug possession. In order to force him to confess, he was punched, kicked and hit with a heavy stick leaving abrasions all over his body. He was also stripped naked.

He was tortured despite having cardiac problems according to statements made by his family.
Action taken by EOHR
EOHR sent complaints to the Prosecutor General, the Interior Minister, the Managing Director of Inspection and Control in the Ministry of Interior and Giza Security Chief.

20) Torture in 10th of Ramadan City Police Station no. 1:
Samaan Shawky Amin Samaan a 19-year- employee in the cafeteria of SADCO Electricity Plant from Menoufeya.
On the 15th February 2003, while Samaan was at work in 10th of Ramadan City, Cairo, a force from the 10th of Ramadan Police Station arrested him on a robbery charge. He was detained in the Police Station in a room called "the fridge" without being presented to the Prosecution until his release on the 14th March.
In order to force Samaan to confess to the robbery, police officers Alaa Abdel Latif, Ibrahim Seliman and Mohamed El Gohary and policemen Al Hoseiny Abou Al Azm and Mohamed Abd El Aziz beat the victim with a thick electric wire all over his body, including his fingers, toes and genitals. He was plunged in cold water as he was struck, and hung and beaten with a stick on his feet. He suffered numerous injuries including:

Open wounds to both feet

Wounds to both hands caused by the electric wire.

Inflammation marks in his right foot. Action taken by EOHR

EOHR sent complaints to the Prosecutor General, the Interior Minister, the Managing Director of Inspection and Control in the Ministry of Interior and the 10th of Ramadan Chief Prosecutor.

21) Mostafa Ahmed Mahmoud Omar
A 20 year old commerce student at Ein Shams University from Nasr City.
On the 18th February 2004 Omar was arrested during a dispute caused by policeman Ahmed Zoheir's refused to pay for a telephone call he made from a communication center owned by Omar. According to the testimony of Omar's family, when they went to inquire about him in the Police Station an officer informed them that Omar was not present. However the next day they were surprised to find him in the Police Station office. He told them that numerous robbery accusations had been fabricated against him and that in order to force a confession from him and he had been beaten by Chief Detective Wael Tahoun and detective assistant and Chief Officer Ahmed Wahba and other policemen.

On the 24/2/2004, when the victim was presented to the Prosecution it examined the injuries and recorded them in the interrogation report. The prosecution sent Omar for forensic examination for corroboration of his injuries.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR sent complaints to the Prosecutor General, the Interior Minister, the Managing Director of Inspection and Control in the Ministry of Interior and the Cairo Security Chief. It also dispatched a fact-finding mission.

22) Alaa Gabr Abou Zeid
A 20 year old worker in a marble factory from El Basatin.

On the 13th January 2004, Abou Zeid was arrested by a force from Maadi Police Station led by Police Station officer Mohamed Abdel Salam. The force took him to the Police Station and detained him on a charge of drug possession. During his detention he was punched and kicked in order to force him to confess to the crime. He suffered the following injuries:

Bruising around the eyes.

Abrasions to the back. Action taken by EOHR EOHR sent complaints to the Prosecutor General, the Interior Minister, the Managing Director of Inspection and Control in the Ministry of Interior and Giza Security Chief.
23) Yosry Mohamed Abdel Ghafar
An employee in the Habi Hotel, Aswan.

On the 16th February 2004 Abdel Ghafar was arrested at work in Habi Hotel in Aswan governorate by a force from Aswan Police Station led by Chief Detective Mohamed Mamdouh Imam Osman and Assitant Detective Hesham. He was detained in the Police Station on a robbery charge, beaten with a stick, whipped, stripped and hung on a door handcuffed behind his back for two days by officers Osman and Hesham.

On the 19th officers from the Police Office Investigation Unit broke into Abdel Ghafar's house detained him in the Police Station and again tortured him. The day after his arrest, his brother went to inquire about him in the Police Station office, and found his brother hung on a door, handcuffed, with injuries that had completely changed his features. On the 24th the victim was presented to the Prosecution which decided to imprison for four days. He was then released on bail with his house as surety.

Action taken by the family
Abdel Ghaffar sent complaints to the Interior Minister, Aswan Security Chief and the Managing Director of Inspection and Control in the Ministry of Interior.

24) Iman Mahmoud Abdalla
A 48 year old housewife from Suez.
On the 16th January 2003 Abdalla, together with her husband Sabry Osman were arrested by Chief Officer Mahmoud Hegazy and Lieutenant Mohamed Abou Al Dahab from the Anti-Theft Unit in Cairo's Security Administration. They were taken to Cairo Security department. Heliopolis and Nasr City Divisions charged them with a total of 12 robbery charges to which they were forced to confess. As well as being subjected to assault Abdalla was humiliated by both officers who forced her to take off her clothes after which they sexually molested her. These events occurred despite the fact that she and her husband had committed no crime.

Abdalla suffered the following injuries:

Injury to the right hand index finger

Bruises to the chest and back caused by punching

Swelling in the knee of the left leg.

Swelling in the left foot

A festering wound in the left foot. The prosecution observed the injuries and decided to transfer Abdalla for forensic examination in order to corroborate her injuries.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR sent complaints to the Prosecutor General and the Interior Minister.
25) Talaat Mohamed Sayed
A 20 year old farmer from Assiut.

On the 3rd March 2004 a force from Haram Police Station led by Assitant Detective Talaat burst into his work premises in order to arrest Abdel Ghaffar Mohamed Ahmed Mahran, the owner of the farm where Sayed works (56 km outside Cairo) in connection with a charge Mahran was facing. Not finding Mahran, the force arrested Sayed and everyone else present on the farm. Assistant Ahmed Farag and other officers beat the victim with sticks, tied his hands behind his back and hung him on the door of one of the farm's rooms, pulling down on his feet in order to increase the pressure on his hands. They stripped him naked and dragged him along on the ground while punching and kicking him on his face and his body causing him the following injuries:

Festering wounds (2 x 2 cm) on the back of his right hand

A 4cm in diameter festering wound in his right hand joint

A 2cm in diameter festering wound on the back of his left hand, and in the right leg joint, and the appearance of ulcers on both hands

A cut in the right shin

A 10cm festering wound extending from the middle of the right leg to the foot

Festering wounds all over the left leg beginning at the leg joint.

A 5 cm deep wound in the right thigh

A 7cm deep wound in the left thigh

The force then took him and others to Haram Police Station where they were detained. He was accused of weapons possession and presented to the Prosecution which decided to detain him for a further four days while the investigation was carried out. The detention was renewed for a further thirty days until his release on 300 LE bail.

Action taken by the family
Sayed's brother sent complaints to the Prosecutor General, the General Attorney of the South Giza Prosecution Office and Haram Prosecution Chief requesting that they investigate his brother's torture.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR filed complaints with the Prosecutor General, the Interior Minister, the Managing Director of Inspection and Control, the First General Attorney for South Giza prosecution and Haram Chief Prosecutor. It also dispatched a fact-finding mission.
The Public Prosecution investigated the incident and decided to send him for forensic examination. Results are still pending.

26) Nariman, Noha, Nehad, Noura and Nany Abdel Hafez Badawy
From Zawya Hamra.
On the17th December 2003, a force from Sharabeya Police Station broke into the Badawy home looking for the victims' brother Badawy Abd El Hafez Badawy. The sisters were assaulted, causing the following injuries:

Nariman suffered injury to left eye and cyanosis under the eyes

Nehad suffered bruises to her hands and sickness due to the assault due to being in the first trimester of pregnancy

Noha was injured with bruises to her back and abrasions to the head

Nany was injured with bruises to her left hand and a fracture in the finger of her left hand finger

When the girls went to Sharabeya Police Station in order to report the incident, officers refused to file the report or cooperate in any way. They then sought the help of the Police Station Assistant Officer who stated that he would file a report but has still not done so.

Action taken by EOHR
EOHR sent complaints to the Prosecutor General and the Interior Minister and dispatched a fact-finding mission.
2. Analysis of torture 1993 - April 2004
EOHR monitored 292 torture cases in the 11 years from 1993 to April 2004. 120 deaths resulted from torture during this period 2000, 2001 and 2002 witnessed the least torture cases (13, 14 and 12 cases respectively.) While the Government has sent more torture cases to court since 2002 reduced sentences are issued against individuals accused of torture due to legislative shortcomings. Incidences of torture increased in 2003, when some 45 cases were recorded, whereas in 1994 there were approximately 33 cases. The 1990s were marked by a wave of detentions after an upsurge in clashes between Islamic groups and Egyptian security forces.

Number of torture cases and deaths resulting from torture between 1993 - April 2004

The chart above illustrates the relative distribution of torture cases and deaths resulting from torture between 1993 - April 2004. Years 2003, 1994, 1999, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2004 witnessed the highest percentage of torture cases (16%, 11%, 11%, 10%, 8%, 8% and 8% respectively). 2000 and 2002 saw the least number of torture cases. In these years the monitored percentage of total torture cases was 4% in both years.

a. Distribution of torture victims according to governorates:
Cairo, Alexandria, Kalyoubeya, Gharbeya, Daqahleya, Qena, Sharqeya, Fayoum and Assiut are the governorates which witnessed the highest number of torture cases between 1993 and April 2004. The number of torture cases in each governorate was 133, 37, 15, 8, 7, 7, 5, 5, 5 and 5 respectively.

The Governorate of Cairo occupies first position with a total number of 133 torture cases. The methods of torture used in Police Stations include punching, kicking, whipping, beatings with sticks, cables and iron chains, pouring boiling water on the body, electric shocks, sexual humiliation such as forcing the victim to strip or the threat of sexual humiliation. Hosam Al Sayed Mohamed Amer for example endured "a torture party" in Azbakeya Police Station. Officers punched, kicked and pistol whipped him, spat on his face, poured tea on his face when he passed out threw dirty toilet water on his face to revive him then forced him to drink it. While he was being moved in the police van he was hung from his left wrist until he lost consciousness.

Chart showing the 10 governorates with the highest number of torture cases between 1993 and April 2004

In death cases which EOHR suspects resulted from torture and mistreatment, the governorate of Cairo again occupies first place followed by the governorates of Kalyoubeya, Giza, Alexandria, Gharbeya, Beheira, Dakahleya, Kafr El Sheikh, Sharkeya and Wadi Gedid whose number of death cases were 4, 4, 4, 5, 9, 13, 43, 3, 3 and 3 respectively.

The ten governorates with the highest number of deaths resulting from torture between 1993 -and April 2004

b. Distribution of torture victims according to Police Stations
Statistics available to EOHR make clear that most torture cases between 1993 and April 2004 took place in State Security Investigations Centres (33 cases). 13 cases occurred in Helwan Police Station, 12 in Abou Al Nomros Police Station, 6 in Giza Police Station and 6 cases in Zakazik, Dawahy and Maadi Police Stations. Toukh Police Station witnessed some 5 cases, while 4 cases occurred in Zawya Hamra Police Station.

The following chart shows the first 10 Police Stations according to the number of torture cases during the period from 1993 - April 2004

State Security Investigations centres, Shubra Police Station, Omraneya Police Station, Heliopolis Police Station, Wayly Police Station, Maadi Police Station, Azbakeya Police Station, el Tebbin Police Station, Bab el Sheereya Police Station and al Gomrok Police Station witnessed the highest number of death cases resulting from torture. The total number of death cases was 4, 5, 5, 7, 2, 3, 2, 2 and 2.

The 10 Police Stations with the highest number of deaths resulting from torture between 1993 and 2004