New information:
The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the continuing arbitrary detention of Mr. Haytham Mohamadein, labour rights lawyer at the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF)and a member of El-Nadim Centre for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture, an Egyptian NGO dedicated to combating torture and providing medical and legal aid in support of victims of human rights’ abuses.
According to the information received, on November 27, 2019 the Cairo Criminal Court decided to give Mr. Haytham Mohamadein conditional release under Case No. 741 of 2019. However, after the Prosecution appealed the Court’s decision on November 28, 2019, the Court revoked its decision and renewed Mr. Mohamadein’s pre-trial detention for another 45 days. As of publishing this Urgent Appeal, Mr. Mohamadein would remain detained in Giza central prison, a Central Security Forces Camp on the Cairo-Alexandria desert road.
The Observatory condemns the continuing arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of Mr. Haytham Mohamadein, as his detention seems to be only aimed at punishing him for his legitimate human rights activities.
The Observatory recalls that shortly after Mr. Haytham Mohamadein’s re-arrest, Mr. Ibrahim Ezz El-Din, another ECRF member, was arrestedand went missing for 167 days, until he at last reappeared at State security prosecution on November 26, 2019 [1].
The Observatory calls on the Egyptian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Haytham Mohamadein,and to put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against him and all human rights defenders in Egypt.
Background information:
On May 18, 2018, members of the police and National Security Agency arrested Mr. Haytham Mohamadein in his home in El-Saff in Giza Governorate. On May 19, 2018, the Prosecutor ordered a 15-day detention period pending an investigation in Case No. 718 of 2018 on charges of "aiding a terrorist organisation to achieve its goals" and "calling for illegal protests". On this day, Mr. Mohamadein was transferred to the Central Security Forces Camp "Kilo 10.5", which is located on the Cairo-Alexandria desert road. Beginning of June 2018, he was transferred to Qanater prison.
On October 8, 2018, Giza Criminal Court, circuit 14, decided to release Mr. Haytham Mohamadein on probation pending trial. This decision was appealed on the same day by the Supreme State Security Prosecution. On October 10, 2018, the Court rejected the prosecution’s appeal and confirmed the order to release Mr. Mohamadein on probation. Between October 10 and October 29, Mr. Mohamadein was transferred between different detention places and his family and lawyers were sometimes unable to reach him, until he was finally released from El-Saff police station, near his home in the suburbs of Giza, on October 29, 2018.
On May 12, 2019, Mr. Haytham Mohamadein was summoned to El-Saff police station in Giza in relation to the probationary measures issued against himin Case No. 718 of 2018. After presenting himself at the police station, Mr. Mohamadein went missing. After initially denying it, on May 13, 2019, El-Saff police officers finally recognised his detention at the police station but denied his lawyer and family their rights to visit and contact him until May 16.
On May 14, 2019, El-Saff police officers submitted a report to the prosecution on Mr. Haytham Mohamadein’s alleged lack of compliance with his probationary measures. Neither Mr. Mohamadein nor his lawyer were given the opportunity to read or answer the report. The office of the Prosecutor did not take any decision on the case and returned the report to the police station, and police officers submitted it again on May 15, 2019.
On May 16, 2019, Mr. Haytham Mohamadein was brought before the State Security Prosecution, in relation to Case No. 741 of 2019, on allegations of "aiding a terrorist organisation to achieve its goals"and “misuse of social media”. On the same day, Mr. Mohamadein was transferred to Giza central prison.
Mr. Haytham Mohamadein’s pre-trial detention in Case No. 741 of 2019 has since then been renewed on a 45-days basis by State Security Prosecution.
Actions requested:
Please write to the authorities of Egypt asking them to:
i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological well-being of Mr. Haytham Mohamadein and of all human rights defenders in Egypt;
ii. Immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Haytham Mohamadeinas his detention is arbitrary since it only seems to aim at punishing him for his human rights activities;
iii. Put an end to all forms of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Mr. Haytham Mohamadein and all human rights defenders in the country, and ensure in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate activities without any hindrance or fear of reprisals;
iv. Conform to the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, in particular with Articles 1, and 12.2;
v. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments to which Egypt is a State party.
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. 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
Public Prosecutor, Counsellor Nabeel Sadek, Fax: +202 2577 4716
Head of the Egyptian 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 the United 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 representations of Egypt in your respective countries.
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Paris-Geneva, December 12, 2019
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The objective of this programme is to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org
Tel and fax FIDH +33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18 / +33 1 43 55 18 80
Tel and fax OMCT +41 (0) 22 809 49 39 / +41 22 809 49 29
[1] See Observatory Urgent Appeal EGY 002 / 0619 / OBS 050.1, published on November 27, 2019.