Egypt: Two torture victims held in Al-Arish
08 Sep 2009
Alkarama has received information from Egypt regarding two individuals arrested on 1 September 2009, currently held incommunicado at State Security Intelligence (SSI) headquarters in Al-Arish, Northern Sinai.
Reliable sources indicate that Ghannam Said Mahmoud and Alaa Issa, two teachers from Al-Arish, were arrested after Taraweeh prayer on 1 September 2009 as they were leaving their local mosque. They were blindfolded and taken to their homes where SSI forces vandalized their property, seized valuables and intimidated their family members.
They have still not been presented before a judge and have been subjected to various forms of physical torture.
Alkarama will continue to closely monitor these cases and will inform the appropriate UN procedures of these violations. We remind the Egyptian authorities of their obligations under the Convention against Torture.