On this day, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (26 June), the undersigned human rights organizations reaffirm that the crime of torture continues to be practiced systematically in several Arab countries, in blatant violation of human dignity and international law—especially the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which most Arab governments have ratified.
We hereby launch a wide-reaching human rights campaign to shed light on the suffering of victims, support their right to justice and rehabilitation, and hold governments accountable for fostering an environment of impunity for these crimes against humanity.
We strongly condemn the ongoing use of torture by authorities in several Arab states as a systematic tool of political repression, aimed at intimidating opponents, silencing dissent, and punishing human rights defenders and arbitrarily detained individuals—while perpetrators enjoy near-total impunity.
In occupied Palestine, Palestinian detainees—including children—are subjected to brutal physical and psychological torture by Israeli occupation forces in interrogation centers and prisons, with no meaningful accountability, in violation of international humanitarian law and the Convention Against Torture.
In Egypt, torture is practiced as a state policy within detention facilities and prisons, involving beatings, electric shocks, and prolonged suspension, leading in many cases to deaths in custody. Authorities have taken no effective steps to ensure independent investigations or hold perpetrators accountable.
In Tunisia, despite human rights gains following the revolution, torture has resurfaced amid escalating political arrests and the referral of civilians to military courts. The situation is exacerbated by the spread of chronic and serious illnesses in Tunisian prisons and the absence of fair trial guarantees.
In Algeria, numerous testimonies confirm grave violations against detainees from the Hirak protest movement and political prisoners, including degrading treatment and psychological torture in detention centers. This occurs in an increasingly repressive climate against freedom of expression and assembly.
These ongoing brutal practices, coupled with international silence and inaction, represent a stain on the face of international justice and threaten the very foundations of the human rights system. The blatant lack of national accountability mechanisms and the continued shielding of perpetrators further entrench a culture of impunity and consolidate torture as a permanent tool in the hands of authoritarian regimes.
As we honor the resilience of torture victims across the Arab world and their advocates, we:
1. Call on all relevant Arab governments to end all forms of torture and fully implement the UN Convention Against Torture and its Optional Protocols, including enforcing serious penalties on those found guilty of such crimes.
2. Demand independent and transparent investigations into all allegations of torture and the prompt prosecution of those responsible.
3. Stress the need to open places of detention to visits by international organizations and independent monitoring bodies.
4. Urge the international community, particularly UN mechanisms, to apply genuine pressure to stop torture in the aforementioned countries, including invoking universal jurisdiction where applicable.
5. Call for comprehensive reparation for victims, including compensation, medical and psychological care, and guarantees of non-repetition.
In conclusion, while we honor the perseverance of torture victims and their supporters, we affirm that the fight against torture cannot be separated from the broader struggle for good governance, judicial independence, freedom of expression, and human dignity—all of which are essential pillars of genuine democratic transformation and a just Arab region.
Signatory Organizations:
Association of Victims of Torture – Geneva
Alkarama for Human Rights – Geneva
Justice for Human Rights Foundation – Istanbul
AFD International – Belgium
El-Shehab for Human Rights – London
Tawasol for Human Rights – The Hague
Human Rights Monitor – London
Cedar for Human Rights – Lebanon
Solidarity for Human Rights – Geneva
Free Voice for Human Rights – France
Egyptian Rights Council – Geneva