Egyptian rights groups have called for turning the state security investigation bureau building into a national museum celebrating the revolution of January 25. The state-run MENA news agency reported Tuesday that the hated investigation body has been dismantled in all of Egypt's governorates and would be replaced by a new body. Recently, the state security buildings around the country had been stormed by activists and regular citizens, taking files after officers and leadership abandoned the place. To much of their surprise, many of the files were shredded and destroyed by the officers before their departure. The new institution: Amn Watany, or ‘National Security,' will be formed and tasked with protecting national security and fighting terrorism. Formerly, Egypt most feared and hated body have faced constant accusations of using torture against citizens which in many documented cases have led to deaths. The Hisham Mubarak Law Center (HMLC), had filed a complaint Monday before the administrative court to resolve the State Security Investigation bureau on behalf of a number of activists and rights supporters against the chief of the Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces, the Prime Minister and the Ministry of the Interior. In the complaint, the activists called for the preserving of any torture tools found in these infamous buildings and having them on display in the proposed museum. Many rights activists have tried feverishly over the years to open investigations into the human rights violations that have occurred in the State Security Investigation building over the years, to no avail. BM
