Security Forces Raid The Egyptian Center For Economic And Social Rights, Alexandria Branch, And Sexually Harass Females

The undersigned organizations condemn the securityforces storming of the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights,Alexandria Branch, and note that such attack is an expected escalation, amidstthe growing incitement in the media, and defamation campaigns, which have beentargeting human rights organizations and human rights defenders in Egypt.

Egyptian security forces, alongside security personneldressed in civilian attire, raided the Alexandria Branch of The Egyptian Centerfor Economic and Social Rights, arresting 15, including two minors, and twoECESR staff, and confiscating several computers and documents. The arrestedwere taken to the Alexandria Security Department where they were held, untilreleased hours later.

Security forces raided ECESR’s office while a pressconference was being held in solidarity with imprisoned labor activist Mahinour Al-Massry, who was sentencedto two years in prison on charges of protesting. Al-Massry’s appeal wasrecently rejected, and her sentence was reaffirmed. The press conference camein solidarity with imprisoned activist Al-Massry, who was taking part in aprotest demanding justice for martyr ‘Khaled Said’, tortured to death bysecurity forces in 2010, the latter incident is considered a driving force ofthe Egyptian Revolution in January 2011.

In addition, the undersigned organizations expressdeep concerns about the sexualharassment and molestation of females attending the press conference, by thesecurity forces, which can only be considered an attempt to discourage femalesfrom participating in the public space.

The aforementioned press conference is part of ECESR’songoing campaign against the Protest Law No. 107/2013, which was issued byAl-Beblawi’s government in November 2013. It also comes in light of ECESR’songoing court case, disputing the constitutionality of the aforementionedprotest law.

It is noteworthy that this is considered the secondraid on ECESR premises in the past 6 months, and the third since January 2011.

This raid comes in light of systematic and widespreadcrackdown carried out by the interim regime of July 3rd on human rightsdefenders, in an attempt to silence the voices of those speaking out againsthuman rights violations committed by the security state, and demanding justiceand fair compensation to victims of human rights violations.

Notably, this raid comes a few days before thepresidential elections in Egypt, scheduled May 26 and 27, a period expected toenjoy a larger space for freedom of expression. Instead, the raid that targetedthe Egyptian Center only reflects a repressive atmosphere, and rising threatsto the existence and function of civil society organizations, impeding themfrom executing their key role in Egypt’s transition.

The undersigned organizations request the immediaterelease of all those detained and arrested for exercising their right tofreedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and calls for a speedy end tothese unfair practices, including the police harassment of civil societyorganizations and human rights defenders. The state should stop targeting humanrights defenders, and restricting their work. In addition, we call forimmediate investigations into the sexual harassment that females faced at thepremises of ECESR at the hands of the security forces.

Finally, the undersigned organizations articulate thatthey will take all legal measures against those responsible for the raid of theECESR office, and will register a complaint to the High Commissioner for HumanRights as well as the relevant United Nations Special Rapporteurs.

Signatories:

Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights

Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies

Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights

Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression

Al-Nadim Center

Nazra for Feminist Studies

Hisham Mubarak Law Center

New Woman Foundation

Arabic Network for Human Rights Information

Andalus institute for tolerance & Anti-violencestudies

National Community for HumanRights and law

Egyptian Foundation forAdvancement of Childhood Conditions

Center for Egyptian WomenLegal Assistance

FIDH,within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

WorldOrganisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatoryfor the Protection of Human Rights Defenders