Articles for Egypt

Alkarama has just learned that Ibrahim Moujahid and Tarek Khidr, were both released on 12 June 2010.

Ibrahim Moujahid was arrested on 8 March 2010 by security agents at the Kwaisna Institute of Art, while carrying posters in support of Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Security agents took them to their office where he was severely beaten all over his body.

Twelve Egyptian citizens were abducted at the hands of the police during the midterm Shura Council elections which took place on Tuesday 1 June 2010.

On 16 January 2010, State Security Investigative (SSI) forces arrested Sudanese refugee, Hassan Mahmoud Mohamed, 32, from his home in 6th of October City and took him to an unknown location; following his transfer to Tora prison 55 days later, his family learned that he was held incommunicado at the SSI headquarters in Nasr City.

In the early hours of the 16 January 2010, SSI officers raided Hassan Mohamed's apartment, confiscating some of his belongings, including his mobile phone and 3600LE.

At least 30 Muslim Brotherhood supporters were injured on 29 May 2010, as Egyptian security forces attacked an election rally organized by residents of Abu Homs in Al-Baheira governorate.

Mohamed Al-Mahdi Mohamed Attia, Atef Mohamed Amer, Osama Mohamed Obeid, Saad Abu Al-Ainain Metwali, Badr Abdelaziz Mahmoud Al-Fallah, were all arrested on 20 April 2010 under orders from the Prosecutor General following a peaceful sit-in protest. They have since been placed in administrative detention, despite a Court decision for their release.

Alkarama sent their cases to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on 26 May 2010, requesting its intervention with the Egyptian authorities.

1. Mohamed Al-Mahdi Mohamed Attia, 50, is an engineer from Monufia governorate.

On 26 April 2010, State Security Investigative (SSI) forces, under the command of Officer Samah Heikel, carried out a warrantless search of Nasr Al-Sayed Hassan Nasr's home in Banha. Although Nasr Al-Sayed Hassan Nasr was not there at the time of the incursion, his belongings were confiscated and the SSI agents informed his family that he was requested to report to SSI headquarters in Banha. On 28 April 2010, Nasr Al-Sayed Hassan Nasr reported to the SSI station in Banha and has since disappeared.

The Egyptian Intelligence services arrested Ahmed Abdallah on 3 June 2008 and took him to the local police station where he was charged with drug trafficking. He eventually appeared in court and was acquitted, but held back on administrative orders despite two court decisions to annul his case. To date he has not been released.

Alkarama sent his case to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention asking for its intervention with the Egyptian authorities in order that the court decisions be respect and that Ahmed Abdallah be released.

The streets of Egypt are currently locked in a state of suspense in the lead-up to the upcoming legislative elections due to take place on 1 June 2010. As ElBaradei's "Movement for Change" and the Muslim Brotherhood begin to further harmonize on the ground level, Egyptian security forces have upped their efforts to suppress public opinion. The recent extension of Egypt's Emergency Law until 2012, means that opposition activists, politicians and leaders can be easily harassed.

Alkarama continues to receive reports of deaths inside Egyptian detention centers as a result of torture. The latest case of Tamer Mohamed Al-Baz'amara is no exception. The growth of this phenomenon is coupled with a lack of accountability and due process in investigating these violations.

Tamer Mohamed Al-Baz'amara, 20, was arrested in August 2009 and sentenced by a military court to two years imprisonment and hard labor for evading his military service.