CAIRO: Amir Salem, the lawyer representing Sinai activist Mosaad Abu Fagr, who has been detained for 3 years now under the emergency law, has started what he calls "the international escalation phase," in a bid to secure the release of his client. "I will start heading to a number of international organizations, on top of which is the United Nations Human Rights Council, to call for the release of Abu Fagr," Salem told Daily News Egypt. "Abu Fagr received many court verdicts ordering his release, but security services keep arresting him again under the emergency law." The amendments to the emergency law, which were approved by the parliament this month, limit its implementation to terrorism and drug related crimes. Those held under the emergency law for different charges should be released, Salem said. Salem said he'll continue with the local legal procedure including filing a lawsuit to the Administrative Court in the State Council, calling for the release of Abu Fagr based on the amendments to the emergency law that will go into effect this June. Security Service had arrested Abu Fagr in December 2007 and accused him of participating in protests organized by Sinai Bedouins. Abu Fagr is also the author of the Wedna Ne'iesh” (We want to live) blog. The Hisham Mubarak Law Center was able to obtain several court verdicts ordering his release, but the activist remains behind bars. Salem called on President Hosni Mubarak to intervene and release Abu Fagr, under the amendments of the emergency law and the court verdicts that allow his release. Salem held security forces responsible for Abu Fagr's wellbeing. Abu Fagr is detained in Borg Al-Arab prison in Alexandria. Salem said, "Abu Fagr is being subjected to repression from security forces that insist on torturing him, depriving him from having any visitors and detaining him in the same prison cell as convicted murderers.” "I call on the Secretary General of United Nations and all international and local organizations to intervene to save Abu Fagr's life, as he suffers from a deteriorating health condition as a result of constant torture."
