The pre-trial detention of Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb renewed again for 15 days
EGY 004 /0718 / OBS 090.1
Arbitrarydetention /
Judicial harassment
Egypt
July 26, 2018
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, apartnership of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), hasreceived new information and requests your intervention in the followingsituation in Egypt.
New information:
The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the pursuitof the arbitrary detention of Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb, human rightsdefender known for his role as a youth activist and leader in the 2011revolution.
According to the information received, on July 25, 2018, the pre-trialdetention of Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb,has again been renewed for 15 days. Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb has beenarbitrarily detained since May 15, 2018, and his pre-trial detention hasalready been renewed six times. He is being accused of “joining a groupestablished in violation to the provisions of the law and the constitution withthe aim to disrupt state institutions, spread false news, and humiliate thePresident” (see background information).
Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb, held in solitary confinement at Qanater prison sincethe beginning of his detention, has been transferred to a new cell last week.According to the same information received, the conditions of detention of Dr.Shadi al-Ghazali Harb have deteriorated. His new cell is very dirty, hot, andno ventilation is available.
The Observatory recalls that Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb’s detentionoccurs within a new wave of arrests targeting human rights defenders in Egyptsince May 2018, including Ms. Amal Fathy[1],Mr. Wael Abbas[2]and Mr. Haytham Mohamadein[3],all detained on trumped up terrorism-related charges.
The Observatory condemns in the strongest terms this renewed crackdowntargeting human rights defenders, and urges the Egyptian authorities toimmediately and unconditionally release Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb, as well asMs. Amal Fathy, Mr. Wael Abbas and Mr. Haytham Mohamadein, as their detention isarbitrary since it only aims at sanctioning their human rights activities.Until then, the Observatory calls on the Egyptian authorities to guarantee thepsychological and physical integrity of the above-mentioned human rightsdefenders.
The Observatory more generally urges the Egyptian authorities to put anend to all forms of harassment against them, including at the judicial level,and to refrain from further punishing their peaceful and legitimate humanrights activities under trumped up, terrorism-related charges.
Background information:
On May 15, 2018, Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb was arrested after hepresented himself to the office of the general prosecution in Giza where he hadbeen summoned by a warrant from the North Giza Court. Although he was initiallygranted a 50,000 EGP bail (approx. 2,400 Euros), he was then transferred to theDokki police station where he was detained overnight.
On May 16, 2018 the State Security Prosecution ordered his detention for15 days pending investigation into charges of case no. 621 of 2018, which istargeting a number of human rights defenders, bloggers and online activists.
Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb is being detained in solitary confinement atQanater prison, where he does not have regular access to his family andlawyers. During the first 15 days of his detention, he was even denied accessto a bed and he was not allowed to go outdoors.
Actions requested:
Please write to the authorities of Egypt asking them to:
i. Guarantee in all circumstances thephysical and psychological integrity of Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb, Ms. AmalFathy, Mr. Wael Abbas and Mr. Haytham Mohamadein, their relatives andall human rights defenders in Egypt;
ii. Immediately and unconditionallyrelease Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb, Ms. Amal Fathy, Mr. Wael Abbas andMr. Haytham Mohamadein as their detention is arbitrary as it is merelyaimed at punishing them for their human rights activities;
iii. Put an end to all acts ofharassment, including at the judicial level, against Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb,Ms. Amal Fathy, Mr. Wael Abbas and Mr. Haytham Mohamadein and allhuman rights defenders in Egypt, and ensure that they are able to carry outtheir activities without hindrance;
iv. Conform with the provisions of theUN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly ofthe United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially Articles 1, 6(c) and 12.2;and
v. More generally, ensure in allcircumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms inaccordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and withinternational and regional human rights instruments ratified by Egypt.
Addresses:
·President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, H.E. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Fax: +2022391 1441. Email:p.spokesman@op.gov.eg, Twitter: @AlsisiOfficial
· Prime Minister, Mr. Mustafa Kemal Madbouly Mohamed. Email:pm@cabinet.gov.eg
· Minister of the Interior, Mr. Mahmoud Tawfik, Email: center@iscmi.gov.eg
· Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohamed Hossam Abdel-Rahim, Fax: +202 2795 8103
· Minister of Social Solidarity, Mrs. Ghada Wali, Tel: +202 333 75420
· Public Prosecutor, Counsellor Nabeel Sadek, Fax: +202 2577 4716Head of theEgyptian parliament’s Human Rights Committee, Mr. Alaa Abed, Email:humanrightscomplaints@parliament.gov.eg
· Mr. Mohamed Fayeq, President of the National Council For Human Rights,Fax: + 202 25747497 / 25747670. Email: nchr@nchr.org.eg
· H.E. Mr. Alaa Youssef, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Egypt to theUnited Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Email: mission.egypt@bluewin.ch
· Embassy of Egypt in Brussels, Belgium, Fax: +32 2 675.58.88; Email:embassy.egypt@skynet.be
Please also write to the diplomatic missions or embassies of Egypt inyour respective country.
***
Paris- Geneva, July 26, 2018
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of thisappeal in your reply.
The Observatoryfor the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in1997 by FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The objectiveof this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repressionagainst human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members ofProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanismimplemented by international civil society.
Tocontact the Observatory, call the emergency 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] See theObservatory Urgent Appeal EGY 002 / 0518 / OBS 059.3 published on June 8, 2018.
[2] See the Observatory Urgent Appeal EGY 003 / 0518 / OBS 071.1 published onMay 31, 2018.
[3] See the Observatory Urgent Appeal EGY 003 / 0518 / OBS 069 published on May23, 2018. @font-face { font-family: Arial;}@font-face { font-family: "Courier New";}@font-face { font-family: Wingdings;}@font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math";}@font-face { font-family: "MS Mincho";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(0, 0, 10); }p.MsoFootnoteText, li.MsoFootnoteText, div.MsoFootnoteText { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(0, 0, 10); }span.MsoFootnoteReference { vertical-align: super; }p.MsoBodyText, li.MsoBodyText, div.MsoBodyText { margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(0, 0, 10); }span.LienInternet { color: rgb(5, 99, 193); text-decoration: underline; }span.Ancredenotedebasdepage { vertical-align: super; }span.Accentuationforte { font-weight: bold; }span.CorpsdetexteCar { color: rgb(0, 0, 10); }span.NotedebasdepageCar { color: rgb(0, 0, 10); }.MsoChpDefault { font-size: 10pt; }div.WordSection1 { }ol { margin-bottom: 0cm; }ul { margin-bottom: 0cm; }