Egypt “Disappears” Hundreds of Citizens
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has sharply increased detention and torture of Egyptian citizens, according to a new report by Amnesty International. The group says that over 34,000 people are currently detained including supporters of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and critics and opponents of the government. In the first five months of 2016 alone, 630 citizens have “disappeared” and torture of detainees is rampant.
The 71-page report is based on dozens of interviews with lawyers, released detainees, NGO works and family members. The report also describes the horrid treatment incurred by inmates, including various torture techniques like electrocution, blindfolding, beating, suspension from arms and legs, and sexual abuses like rape. Some of the arrested were as young as 14 years old, and they vanish without a trace for months at a time.
“Enforced disappearance has become a key instrument of state policy in Egypt,” Philip Luther, the Director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Amnesty wrote in the report. “Anyone who dares to speak out is at risk, with counter-terrorism being used as an excuse to abduct, interrogate and torture people who challenge the authorities.”
The report looks into 17 cases, detailing the circumstances of the arrest. In one case of 14-year-old Mazen Mohamed Abdallah, he was “disappeared” in September 2015. He was repeatedly raped with a wooden stick to force a confession. The report says the cases of disappearance has increased since Abd el-Ghaffar was appointed Minister of Interior in March 2015. He had previously served in the State Security Investigations (SSI) the secret police force that had been known for human rights violations under long-time autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak.
The Amnesty report on detention follows a sharp crackdown on freedom of the press and freedom to protest. Overall, human rights groups say the situation in Egypt is deteriorating and is now worse than it was under Mubarak.
Hisham Kassem, the founder of Al Masry Al Youm, a privately-owned independent daily founded in 2004, said his shareholders were always trying to slant coverage, which caused him to quit.
“The limits on freedom of expression are greater than they were under Mubarak,” he told The Media Line. “Many journalists also practice self-censorship, and refrain from writing scathing pieces criticizing the president or the judiciary.”
Egyptian courts have sentenced more than 150 people to jail terms last month for participating in peaceful protests or spreading false information, according to Human Rights Watch. Earlier this week, an appeals court replaced the prison terms for 47 others who had started hunger strikes with a fine of $11, 270 which they will have to pay before they are released.
Human Rights Watch says the Egyptian government should release thousands of activists and protestors immediately.
“What we are asking is very basic – for Egypt to respect international obligations and allow people to protest,” Nadim Houry of Human Rights Watch told The Media Line. “The government is using the court and national security provisions to crack down on all forms of protest and unfortunately the judiciary is complicit in this crackdown.”
The Amnesty Report says the international community continues to supply Egypt with arms to help in its fight against jihadist groups. But those arms are also used to arrest and torture detainees.
“All states, particularly EU member states and the USA, must use their influence to pressure Egypt to end these appalling violations, which are being committed under the false pretext of security and counter-terrorism,” said Philip Luther.
“Instead of continuing to blindly supply security and police equipment to Egypt they should cease all transfers of arms and equipment that have been used to commit serious human rights violations in Egypt until effective safeguards against misuse are established, thorough and independent investigations are conducted and those responsible are brought to justice.”