Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Egypt must investigate human rights abuses, watchdog says
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 19 - 04 - 2011

As allegations of torture and abuse by military police continue, international human rights watchdog Amnesty International released a report on Tuesday calling on Egypt to investigate past human rights abuses, hold abusers accountable and pay reparations to victims.
The report, which focuses on administrative detention by the State Security Investigation Service (SSIS), was produced before the revolution that brought an end to President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule, but notes that many of the abuses perpetrated under Mubarak's regime continue under the country's new military rulers.
The administrative detention system allows for the detention of suspects without charge or trial and is part of the Emergency Laws that have been in place for 30 years, giving police and the SSIS heightened power in investigating crimes and detaining individuals. Some detainees have been held for up to 20 years under administrative detention without charge or trial.
“They must be held to account. SSIS has been dissolved, but we don't have any information about whether there is any system for [bringing to justice] those officers who were part of SSI,” said Said Haddadi, an Egyptian researcher for Amnesty International.
The interim government dissolved the SSIS in mid-March, days after protesters stormed their headquarters in Cairo. The internal security agency has since been incorporated into the National Security Agency, but there are no guarantees of major personnel changes.
“It's a very positive first step. It needs to be followed by holding those responsible to account by putting a mechanism in place to file complaints and get reparations,” Haddadi said.
The Emergency Law, which was amended last June to apply only to terrorism and drug-related cases, remains in place. Claims of ongoing abuse are widespread.
The Ministry of Interior under the Mubarak regime used administrative detention extensively for political opponents, including militant Islamists, the Muslim Brotherhood and pro-democracy activists. Amnesty International highlights several cases of men who were held for years without charge or trial. Amnesty International says these cases show that the men's basic rights were violated.
While most administrative detainees have been released, according to Amnesty International, there are widespread allegations that the military, which currently rules Egypt, has continued the patterns of abuse that persisted under the previous regime. Activists and witnesses claim that the military rounded up protesters and subjected them to torture inside the Egyptian museum in March of this year.
A thorough investigation of those who held administrative detainees for years without charge or trial will be a first step to eradicating this kind of behavior, Haddadi says.
“Once those involved in policing citizens, whether from military or the SSIS or any other security body, are brought to justice, we think that will be a very strong signal that those who committed violations either under the regime or during the uprising or since will be held to account.”


Clic here to read the story from its source.