CAIRO: The Egyptian Association for the Assistance of Juveniles and Human Rights (EAAJHR) today lodged an official complaint with the Egyptian Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) over the detention of three Egyptian children in Israeli prison. Israeli troops detained the Egyptians on the Israeli—Egyptian border on July 14 amid contentious and unclear circumstances. Some human rights organizations have called the detention and the trial unfair. The Association criticized the role of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, which earlier condemned the detention of the children but took no further action. The Association also called for the formation of a committee comprised of lawyers from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representatives at the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv to advocate on behalf of the detained children. The committee should investigate whether or not Israel is adhering to its obligations outlined in the Rights of the Child Convention, to which Israel is a party, Association members said. Members of the Association called SCAF members and the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv to urge an acceleration of the investigation into the circumstances and take legal action to preserve the children's rights.
