Egypt's current account gap narrows, but overall BoP records deficit    Egypt's PM reviews debt reduction strategy, eyes more private investment    Egypt hosts international neurosurgery conference to drive medical innovation    Egypt, India discuss expanding industrial, investment partnerships    World Bank proposes Egypt join new global health initiative    Egypt's EDA discusses Johnson & Johnson's plans to expand investment in local pharmaceutical sector    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Egyptian pound ticks down in early Tuesday trading    Famine kills more Gaza children as Israel tightens siege amid global outrage    Kuwait's Crown Prince, Egyptian minister discuss strengthening cooperation    Egyptian Drug Authority discusses plans for joint pharmaceutical plant in Zambia    Egypt's FM seeks deeper economic, security ties on five-nation West Africa tour    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt exports 175K tons of food in one week    Giza Pyramids' interior lighting updated with new LED system    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, Uruguay eager to expand trade across key sectors    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    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    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    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.



11 journalists seek legal action against police
Published in Daily News Egypt on 11 - 01 - 2009

CAIRO: Eleven reporters, supported by the Hisham Mubarak Center for Human Rights, have called on the Prosecutor General to investigate the brutality they were subjected to while covering the Dec. 31 protests in Cairo.
On Dec. 31, activists took to the streets heading toward the Arab League headquarters in Tahrir Square to protest the Gaza bombardment by Israel and the Arab silence during an emergency meeting between Arab foreign ministers.
Those who made it near the building were assaulted and beaten up by police forces, the activists said. The same happened to the journalists covering the protest.
According to journalists' statements collected by the center, police violations varied from confiscating press IDs, smashing cameras, pushing and shoving, beating, using electric stun guns and trying to sexually harass one female journalist.
The center said the Cairo security department warned most news agencies and newspapers against sending their correspondents to the protest as cameras and other equipment would be confiscated, according to the testimonies taken by the center. Security also warned that foreign media covering the demonstration would jeopardize their work permission in Egypt, according to the center.
Among the 11 assaulted, eight were taken into custody and sent to the infamous Torah Prison for a few hours.
"Police forces wanted everyone to stay home for days, Rasha Azab, a journalist with Al-Fagr newspaper, told Daily News Egypt in a phone interview.
Azab was chased down the street and beaten up, before she was shoved into the police lorry, she said. She was among the eight taken to prison.
Azab added that most journalists who were covering the protest were familiar faces. Those who were not detained had their press IDs confiscated.
The Cairo-based rights center presented photos of some of the assaults as it happened as evidence in the case. Some of the photos showed Salah Al Rashidy, photojournalist with Sout Al Umma newspaper, while he was violently handled by police.
"They shattered his source for making a living, a LE 9,000 camera, and when he tried to file a report against those who attacked him, and after long hours of talking with deputies at the station, they refused to allow him to file a report and gave him a lens, which comprised what was left of his camera, Ahmed Ragheb, a lawyer from the Hisham Mubarak Center, told Daily News Egypt.
Article 48 in the Egyptian constitution states that freedom of the press and media is guaranteed and Article 210 emphasizes that journalists have the "right to get news and information under the law.
"We were taking picture of police forces beating and assaulting protesters and once we were spotted by officers, we were immediately surrounded by tens of them, Alsaied Al Harany, another journalist with Al-Fagr newspaper, told Daily News Egypt.
"They formed a circle around me, hitting me until I fell down, Al Harany said. The police officers didn't stop the beating after he fell, he claims.
According to Al Harany, the police truck drove aimlessly for five hours until they reached the Torah detention center. They were released, shortly after. His statements were confirmed by the other reporters contacted by Daily News Egypt.
"There is a vast difference between reporting on violence that erupts during protests and being part of your story, Harany said.
One of Al-Masry Al-Youm s reporters was electruted twice by police tasers. The man, Ali Zalat, was taken to the Red Crescent hospital on Ramsis Street for treatment.
Noha Mehanna said she was both beaten and sexually harassed by police.
"They ran after us trying to take my cell phone that had photos of the beating and I didn't know they were the police as they were wearing plain clothes, Mehanna said.
"I was surrounded with plain clothed men trying to stop me from moving and meanwhile some of them tried to take my shirt off, Mehanna added.
"Some of them groped me but when I screamed they were just hitting us and later we were thrown into the lorry, Mehanna said.
This is not the first time Egyptian security forces are accused of sexually harassing women at a protest. On May 25, 2005, some 30 women were allegedly sexually assaulted by police officers and their plain-clothes assistants. Some of the women tried to sue but the prosecutor's office, presented with videos of the incident, said there wasn't enough evidence to identify and prosecute the assailants.
"We are not expecting much from the report we filed, but we are want to send a message to the police that 'we know what you are doing', the group's lawyer said. "However, we are taking the legal battle to its end. We can only hope to bring those assaulters to court. he added.


Clic here to read the story from its source.