Arrest, arbitrary detention and ill-treatment of Mr. Tarek Hussein

EGY 001 /0617 / OBS 066

Arrest /

Arbitrarydetention /
Ill-treatment

Egypt
June 20, 2017

TheObservatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDHand the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgentintervention in the following situation in Egypt.

Description of the situation:

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the arrest, arbitrarydetention and ill-treatment of Mr. TarekHussein (known as Tito), human rights activist and lawyer at the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR)[1].

According to theinformation received, on June 17, 2017, at dawn fifteen masked officers andplain clothes officers from the Central Security Forces stormed out Mr. TarekHussein’s house, arrested him and confiscated his laptop and cell phone. Duringhis arrest, Mr. Tarek Hussein requested to see the arrest warrant but was notshown any and was physically and verbally assaulted instead, including upon hisarrival at Khanka’s police station.

He was subsequentlybrought before the Al-Khanka District Prosecution, where he was accused of “joining an illegal organization” and “calling for a protest”.

On June 18, 2017, theAl-Khanka District Prosecution ordered Mr. Tarek Hussein’s release on a 2000EGP (approx. 99 euros) bail, which has been duly paid. However, as ofpublication of this appeal the latter had not been released yet and is stillheld at Khanka’s police station.

In addition, allegations of ill-treatment including physical and verbal assaultwere reported while in detention. It has been reported that Mr. Tarek Husseinis being detained in poor conditions which include sharing an overcrowded cellwith eighty co-detainees, and being denied food and changing clothes for twoconsecutive days. Mr. Hussein’s relatives, who have been in contact with theprison’s authorities, were told that “he deserves to die”.

Mr. Tarek Hussein’sarrest and arbitrary detention occur amidst protest over Tiran and Sanafirislands’ transfer to Saudi Arabia, which he has been vocally opposing[2].

The Observatory isextremely concerned about the ongoing arbitrary detention of Mr. Tarek Husseindespite the Court order to release him on bail. The Observatory believes hisarrest and arbitrary detention are linked to his human rights activities andconsequently urges Egyptian authorities to immediately and unconditionallyrelease him, and withdraw the accusations against him.

Actions requested:

Please write to the authorities of Egypt asking them to:

i. Immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Tarek Hussein aswell as all human rights defenders arbitrarily detained in Egypt;

ii. Put an end to all acts of harassment, including at thejudicial level, against Mr. Tarek Hussein as well as against all human rightsdefenders in Egypt;

iii. Conform with the provisions of the UNDeclaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of theUnited Nations on December 9, 1998, especially Articles 1, 6(c) and 12.2;

iv. More generally, ensure in all circumstances therespect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights and with international and regional humanrights instruments ratified by Egypt.

Addresses:

· President of the Arab Republic of Egypt,H.E. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Fax: +202 2391 1441
Email: p.spokesman@op.gov.eg, Twitter:@AlsisiOfficial
· Prime Minister, Mr. Sherif Ismail. Fax: +202 2735 6449 / 27958016.

· Minister of the Interior, Mr.Magdi Abdel-Ghaffar, Fax: +202 2579 2031 / 2794 5529

· Ministerof Justice, Mohamed Hossam Abdel-Rahim, Fax: +202 2795 8103 


· Ministerof Social Solidarity, Ghada Waly, Fax: +202 3337 5390
· Public Prosecutor, Counsellor NabeelSadek, Fax: +202 2577 4716
· Mr. Mohamed Fayeq, President of theNational Council For Human Rights, Fax: + 202 25747497 / 25747670. Email: nchr@nchr.org.eg

· H.E.Ms. Wafaa Bassim, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nationsin Geneva, Email: mission.egypt@ties.itu.int, Fax: +41 22 738 44 15

· Embassyof Egypt in Brussels, Fax: +32 2 675.58.88; Email: embassy.egypt@skynet.be

Please also write to the diplomatic missions or embassies of Egypt in yourrespective country.

***

Paris-Geneva, June 20,2017

Kindly inform us of anyaction undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.

The Observatory for theProtection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 byFIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The objective of thisprogramme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repression againsthuman rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, theEuropean Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by internationalcivil society.

To contact the Observatory, call theemergency line:

· E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org

· Tel and fax FIDH + 33 1 43 55 25 18 / +33 1 43 55 18 80

· Tel and fax OMCT + 41 22 809 49 39 / + 41 22 809 49 29

[1] Founded in 2009, ECESR is an Egyptian NGO workingthrough litigation, research, data providing and campaigning to patronize andprotect economic and social rights and expand their domain.

[2] In that context, on June 15-16,2017, at least 121 opposition activists were arrested, including MohammadAbdelrahman (known as Nouby). At least eleven activists were to be released onJune 18, 2017.