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Egypt: Government Urged To Halt Excessive Force

Wednesday, 23 November 2011, 12:15 pm
Press Release: Asian Human Rights Commission

Asian Human Rights Commission - Urgent Appeals Programme

22 November 2011

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EGYPT: Government Urged To Halt Excessive Force Against Demonstrators

ISSUES: Arbitrary arrest and detention; extrajudicial killings; enforced disappearances; abductions; freedom of assembly

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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) regarding widespread arbitrary arrest and detention, abductions followed by enforced disappearances of persons, extrajudicial killings and denial of freedom of assembly in Egypt.

For more information, please contact:

The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)

21 Abd El-Megid El-Remaly St.

7th Floor, Flat no. 71, Bab El Louk

P.O. Box 117 Maglis El-Shaab

Cairo

EGYPT

Tel: +202 27963757 /+202 27951112

Fax: +202 27921913

Email: info@cihrs.org

Urgent Appeals Desk

Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

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Urgent Appeal for Action on Egypt:

The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) is calling on states, UN officials, and INGOs to take immediate action to urge the government of Egypt to halt the use of excessive force against largely peaceful protestors, and refrain from further human rights violations in this context.

On 18 November, protestors once again took to the streets of Cairo to demand a transition to a genuine civil democracy. The protests come in response to an escalation of human rights violations by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) over the last half year, and attempts by the SCAF to preserve their power over that of a civilian government, including an attempt to pass a supra-constitutional document that would accord the SCAF veto power over any future parliament and/or future government.

The government and the ruling SCAF appear to be using a systematic policy of excessive violence against mostly peaceful protests. The current Tahrir events cannot be seen in separation from the Maspero Massacre and other mass violations committed, whether before, during, or after the January 25 Revolution.

Use of Excessive Force Against Protestors:

In Cairo, Alexandria, and Suez, both police and army personnel are attacking protestors with excessive and, at times, lethal force. Since early Saturday (19 November), at least 22 documented extrajudicial killings of protestors have taken place in Cairo and Alexandria. The number killed in Cairo on Sunday may be as high as 20, according to a communique by the Ministry of Health on 20 November. It is estimated that over 600 protestors were injured on 19 November, and at least 1400 more on 20 November.

Tahrir square in Cairo has been under continuous attack since early Saturday with beatings, tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition being used against protestors by Central Security Forces, military soldiers, and government affiliated thugs. The attacks against protestors are ongoing. Security personnel have also reportedly attacked a makeshift field hospital in Tahrir and the volunteers working in it in two separate incidences on Sunday evening, causing it to change its location due to imminent threats of a third attack.

Moreover, there are incoming reports of killings of protestors by security forces in Tahrir on Sunday. At least twenty protestor causalities are reported to have occurred in Tahrir square on Sunday evening. There are reports of the bodies of 18 protestors having been delivered to morgues in Cairo on Sunday evening. Violence continues to be used against protesters in Tahrir. It is feared the use of lethal force against protestors will escalate in the coming period.

There is an additional fear that excessive force will be used in solidarity protests that have begun in other places around Egypt. While security forces are using lethal force in Cairo and Alexandria, people are taking to the streets in Suez, Ismaliya, Areesh, Mansoura, Menya, Luxor, Aswan, Qena, and Assyuit in further pro-democracy protests.

Names of confirmed deaths in Tahrir Square, Cairo and Alexandria are:

  1. Ahmed Mahmoud Ahmed

  2. Shehab Eldin El Dakroury

  3. Atef Mohamed Mohamed Awad (shot in the head)

  4. Bahaa Al Senoussi, political activist (Alexandria: shot by live ammunition as he was participating in a peaceful protests in front of the Alexandria police station)

  5. Hossam Hamdi Khaleefa (suffocation as a result of inhaling tear gas and head injury)

  6. Mohamed Rabeea Nabeeh Shehata, 35 years old

  7. Shehad Eldin Ahmed Ibrahim, 25 years old

  8. Mohamed Sayed Abdelfattah, 32 years old

  9. Ali Salah Khedr

  10. Hazem Mashhout Mohamed Ibrahim , 33 years old


Also since Saturday, due to what appears to be a policy of targeting protestors to the head with rubber bullets and bird shots, there have been several incidents of protestors being blinded. There are documented cases of activists and journalists who have sustained eye injuries and other serious injuries, in what appears to be a policy of targeting journalists and activists for their work. The list includes:

  1. Malek Mostafa Mohamed, media officer at the Hesham Mubarak Law Center and a member of the Front to Defend Egypt's protesters (injured in the right eye)

  2. Salem El Sayed El Sayed Abo Rakha , editor at al Al Arabi Al Nasseri newspaper

  3. Ahmed Abdelfatth, photographer at Al Masry Al Youm newspaper (eye injury)

  4. Ahmed Harara, activist and previously injured in the right eye during January 28 protests (injured in the left eye)

  5. Rasha Azab, Journalist and member of the No Military Trials for Civilians group (rubber bullet shot in her face)

  6. Abanob Emad (severely beaten by police forces on November 19 and camera confiscated)

Additionally, below is a list of some of the documented injuries in el-Kasr el-Eini hospital:


  1. Hamed Sayed Abdeltawab

  2. Mohamed Sami Hefni

  3. Saher Ismail Faraf

  4. Mohamed Hamdi Saad

  5. Youssef Khaled Abdelhai, 15 years old (shot with bird shot in the eye)


  6. Ihab Adel Mohamed (shot with bird shot in the eye)

  7. Mohamed Sami Khitab

  8. Abdelmoneim Saleh Abdelmoneim Shehata, 24 years old (shot with bird shot in the eye)

  9. Taha Mohamed Ali

  10. Ahmed Mohamed Hassanein, 50 years old

  11. Ala Eldin El Sayed Sultan

  12. Magdi Abdelmoneim Mahmoud Ghalib, 56 years old

  13. Ahmed Abdallah Sedeeq, 29 years old

  14. Ahmed El Sayed Youssef El Hefni, 19 years old

  15. Saad Adnan Saad Marzouk, 21 years old

  16. Ibrahim Shawki Ibrahim, 25 years old

Security forces have also reportedly set fire to public property in Tahrir square and have begun looting and damaging public and private property. It is believed that this is being carried out in order to justify the use of brutal force against protestors, and harsh sentences in unfair trials for those arrested. Two apartments in the surroundings of Tahrir square were put on fire on the early morning of 20 November as a result of the direct shooting by security personnel on these apartments.

On Sunday, there were reports of a large amount of arrests of protestors by military police and civilian police. Amongst those arrested is potential presidential candidate and journalist Bosayna Kamel, who was later released. Additionally, there are reports of the injured in hospitals being arrested. These are in addition to protesters who were arrested Saturday 19 November, some of whom appeared on Sunday before Abdeen Prosecution (civilian prosecution). Protesters face charges of being involved in illegal assemblies, damaging public and private properties, and traffic disruption.

A list of 62 detained protesters to date (the list of detainees is obtained from the Front to Defend Egypt's Protesters, a group of lawyers and human rights defenders who work on providing legal aid to detained protester and documenting human rights violations during protests):

  1. Hesham Al Seussi

  2. Abdullah Nasr Ahmed, 20 years old

  3. Nadi Mamdouh Sayed, 21 years old

  4. Abdelraouf Abdelnabi, 17 years old

  5. Ibrahim El Sayed, 21 years old

  6. Heshmat Hassanein, 17 years old

  7. Mohamed Fawzy Galal, 22 years old

  8. Sharaf Nageh, 22 years old

  9. Ibrahim Nabeel Abdullah, 18 years old

  10. Mahmoud Rashid, 13 years old


  11. Ahmed El Sayed Hendi, 17 years old

  12. Mahmoud Lotfi

  13. Mohamed Yehia Zakareya

  14. Sanaa Youssef

  15. Amanda Kerdahi, 27 (American citizen and professor at the American University of Cairo)

  16. Ahmed Samir Ramadan, 22 years old

  17. Kareem Mohamed Fawzy, 25 years old

  18. Magda (family name unknown)

  19. Moataz Ahmed Zaki Hassan


  20. Ahmed Abdelreheem

  21. Sherif Salah Mohamed

  22. Islam Mohamed Safi Eldin

  23. Omar Dessouki, 18 years old
    Ismail Alaa Eldin Zohdy

  24. Mohamed Mohi Serag Eldin

  25. Wael Gamal Eldin Atteya

  26. Nahed Mohamed Ali

  27. John Magdi

  28. Kareem Saleh

  29. Mahmoud (family name unknown)

  30. Tarek (family name unknown)


  31. Mostafa Kamal Al Nakeeb

  32. Mostafa Shawky Mansour Mahoud (Ali Maher's (young boy who was shot dead by the army in April 8, 2011) cousin)

  33. Mohamed Ashraf Kamal

  34. Mohamed Fawzy Abdelrahman

  35. Mohamed Saeed Abdelrahman

  36. Osama Ahmad Kamal


  37. Haitham Mohamed Mohamed Mahmoud (in Kasr el Nil prosecution)

  38. Mohamed Ramadan (in Kasr el Nil prosecution)

  39. Mohamed El Sayed Mohamed (in Kasr el Nil prosecution)


  40. Mohamed Ali El Shrabesli (in Kasr el Nil prosecution)

  41. Mohamed Ali Hassan (in Kasr el Nil prosecution)

  42. El Sayed Ali Mohamed (in Kasr el Nil prosecution)

  43. Mohamed Osama El Sayed (in Kasr el Nil prosecution)

  44. Wael Mohamed Abbas (in Kasr el Nil prosecution)

  45. Osama Mohamed Gamal (in Kasr el Nil prosecution)

  46. Ahmed Mahrous Ramadan (in Kasr el Nil prosecution)

  47. Hassan Abdellateef Ali (in Kasr el Nil prosecution)

  48. Ali Ahmed Ezz (in Kasr el Nil prosecution)

  49. Mohamed Saber Ali (in Kasr el Nil prosecution)

  50. Mahmoud Abbas Hussein

  51. Fadi Phillip

  52. Abdallah Mohamed Abdelsalam

  53. Ahmed Helmy Ali

  54. Mohamed Ashraf Kamal Eldin, 20 years old

  55. Ismail Alaa Eldin Zohdy

  56. Ali Sayed Al-Halwassi, 21 years old

  57. Salem Saeed Abdelhakim, 24 years old (arrested from Tahrir square on Nov 19)

  58. Mahmoud Galal Mostafa El Gheitani , 21 years old

  59. Nada Mahmoud Mohamed Awadallah

  60. Mahmoud Mohamed Mohamed El Sayed Abed, 21 years old

  61. Abdallah Mohamed Mohamed El Sayed Abed, 18 years old


Missing persons:


  1. Ahmed Nouh Abdelsattar, 18 years old

  2. Amr Mohamed Atteya

  3. Omar Hani Farouk

  4. Islam Zohdi

  5. Waleed Mohamed Hashem


These violations are occurring amidst an unprecedented governmental crackdown on civil society and human rights organizations that work on documenting ongoing human rights violations. These organizations continue to face the risk of closure and/or imprisonment of their members as a direct result of their work to uncover human rights violations perpetrated by the SCAF. On Saturday evening, General Mohsen El Fangary, senior official at SCAF, criticized NGOs for not working with the government, and for working with society directly. According to Mr. Fangary, NGOs who work directly with victims are working against the interest of the government, and consequently against the interests of the state. (See interview with General Mohsen el-Fangary, member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces in Al Hayat Channel on November 2011, available on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igl0x3h2IFM ).

Video compilation taken from various online news sources and amateur videos:

20 November: Tahrir Square Video showing what appears to be a dead body of a protester being moved by Central Security Forces (CSF) and dumped next to the side walk following CSF and Military Police attack on protesters chasing them away from the square. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr2-VlldcuE&feature=youtu.be&a

20 November: Tahrir Square Video showing a protester severely injured following an attack by CSF forces. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=P9Nrr0vktcY #!

20 November: Tahrir Square Video showing the attack on protesters and security destroying, and setting fire on private property and banners in the square. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVHIXGvKgMA

20 November: Tahrir Square Video showing clearly the attack on protesters by Central Security Forces and Military Police, which includes excessively using tear and beating protesters with batons. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WarEZxFq9HQ&feature=player_detailpage

20 November: Tahrir Square Video showing different footage of injuries sustained by protesters as a result of attacks against them by CSF forces and government affiliated thugs using rubber bullets, bird shots and tear gas bombs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgzeZLXLclQ&feature=related

20 November: Tahrir Square Video showing injuries sustained by protesters as a result of attacks against them by CSF forces and government affiliated thugs using rubber bullets, bird shots and tear gas bombs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=O94sWWDc8Ig #!

20 November: Tahrir Square Video showing Central Security Forces and Military Police using batons to beat protesters in several incidences in the square. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ7FHUtxePw

20 November: Tahrir Square Video showing Central Security Forces and Military Police using batons to beat a protester. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCv4ocbbT_4

20 November: Tahrir Square Central Security Forces setting fire on a motorbike, tents and banners in the square. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSRgQO5iRBQ&sns=fb

20 November: Tahrir Square Doctors treating injured protesters in the Tahrir square metro station. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4hbjDaB3Z0&feature=player_embedded

20 November: Tahrir Square Footage showing injured protesters by Mohamed Mahmoud street, off of Tahrir Square. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPk-wGpn1qw&feature=share>

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme

Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)


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