Human rights
Egypt: Arresting simple people because of Obama
2009-06-12, Issue 437
http://pambazuka.org/en/category/rights/56943
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The Arab Program for Human Rights Activists follows up with deep concern and complete resentment the security procedures' aftermath that accompanied the visit of U.S. President Barak Obama to Cairo on Thursday 04/06/2009. In this regard, the Program purses the serious breaches of citizens' rights that had been conducted between 4th and 6th of June. In addition to the desistance state that took place in Cairo.
Cairo in 4 \ 6 \ 2009
Arresting Simple People Because of Obama
The Arab Program's Campaign over Abuses in El Sharabia Police Station
The Arab Program for Human Rights Activists follows up with deep concern and complete resentment the security procedures' aftermath that accompanied the visit of U.S. President Barak Obama to Cairo on Thursday 04/06/2009. In this regard, the Program purses the serious breaches of citizens' rights that had been conducted since last Thursday and until Saturday evening. In addition to the desistance state that took place in Cairo. Besides, the restricted security instructions to citizens not to open or stand on their home balconies and the mandatory evacuation of the streets due to the security orders from superiors.
Moreover, El Sharabia bureau of investigation led by Major Hisham Farouk arrested a large number of citizens without having any right of detention and without being charged since 03 \06 \ 2009 till Saturday evening in inhuman conditions, where a large number of detainees had been kept in a room that did not exceed an area of 6 × 5 meters. And in spite of having the identity cards and not committing any crime or offense, and force them to clean the Police station's floor many time from the morning of Thursday 04/06 to Saturday 06/06/2009, as if innocent people have become slaves without dignity or rights.
It should be noted that El Sharabia Police Station is consistently arresting citizens under the pretext of inquiry on a weekly basis. Meantime, the Station used to keep citizens in custody for more than 48 hours without being prosecuted, in clear violation of applicable laws and regulations, alleging that it's the instructions of the State Security Investigation Office. Furthermore, the police officers used to take mobile phones from lawyers during their entry into the Police Station. The Arab Program believes that the reason behind this is due to the systematic torture practiced within the Station and the fear of officers from lawyer to catch pictures of what is happening inside.
In this context, The Arab Program for Human Rights Activists calls upon the Minister of Interior Habib Al-Adli to open an urgent and imminent investigation over the Police Officers' acts of violation of the Egyptian Constitution in El Sharabia Police Station, particularly Article 41 which is related to personal freedom, security of persons and the prohibition of arbitrary detention. In addition, the Program considers the officers' actions an absolute violation to all texts of International covenants related to human rights, particularly Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Moreover, the Program demands the Public Prosecutor to carry out its role in censoring police stations to ensure compliance with the Egyptian laws and regulations in preserving human rights and freedoms to ban such abuses.