New information
EGY 002 / 0518 / OBS 059.4
Arbitrary detention /
Judicial harassment
Egypt
June 22, 2018
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and FIDH, has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Egypt.
New information:
The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the ongoing arbitrary detention of Ms. Amal Fathy despite an order to release her on bail issued with regards to one of the two criminal cases pending against her. Ms. Amal Fathy is a woman human rights defender known for being vocal against human rights violations, in particular the arbitrary detention of activists in Egypt. She is married to Mr. Mohamed Lotfy, Executive Director of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF) and a former member of the now banned “April 6 Youth Movement”.
According to the information received, on June 21, 2018, the Criminal Court of South Cairo approved the release on bail of Ms. Amal Fathy within the framework of Case No. 7991 of 2018 upon payment of a 10’000 EGP guarantee (approximately 480 EUR), rejecting the Maadi Prosecutor’s appeal against the release order which had been issued on June 19, 2018 by the Helwan Misdemeanour Appeals’ Court. Under this case, Ms. Amal Fathy is accused of “broadcasting a video harming national security”, “posting a video inciting to overthrow the regime and spreading false rumors”, and “misusing social media”. These charges stem from a 12-minute video released on May 9, 2018, on Facebook in which Ms. Amal Fathy criticises the Egyptian Government for failing to protect women against sexual harassment as well as over a general deterioration in living conditions in the country.
Ms. Amal Fathy remains nonetheless in detention pending investigation within the framework of Case No. 621 of 2018, under which she is accused of “joining a terrorist group”, “publishing false news to disrupt public security and harm national interests” and “using the internet to call for acts of terrorism” (see background information).
The Observatory strongly condemns the ongoing arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of Ms. Amal Fathy, which seem to merely aim at punishing her for her peaceful and legitimate human rights activities and those of her husband, Mr. Mohamed Lotfy. Indeed, this is not the first time that ECRF and its members are subjected to harassment, due to their documentation of cases of torture in prisons, enforced disappearances as well as their legal support in Giulio Regeni’s case. The raid on Mr. Mohamed Lotfy’s house and the arrest of his wife Ms. Amal Fathy actually took place one week before the visit of the Italian technical team to review video footage in connection with the 2016 torture and killing of the Italian researcher.
The Observatory urges the Egyptian authorities to release Ms. Amal Fathy immediately and unconditionally and to put an end to all forms of harassment against her, including at the judicial level.
Background information:
On May 9, 2018, Ms. Amal Fathy posted a 12-minute video on Facebook criticising the Egyptian Government for its failure to protect women against sexual harassment as well as over a general deterioration in living conditions in the country.
The next day, pro-government and State-owned media outlets released articles citing the video, identifying Ms. Amal Fathy as an “April 6 Youth movement” activist, the wife of Mr. Mohamed Lotfy and accusing her of insulting Egypt and Egyptian institutions. This was followed by a wave of harassment and threats on social media against Ms. Amal Fathy.
On May 11, 2018, at around 2.30 am, Egyptian security forces raided the house of Ms. Amal Fathy and Mr. Mohamed Lotfy in Cairo and started searching it. Their mobile phones were seized and they were denied the right to communicate with a lawyer or their relatives. The two activists were brought to Maadi police station, in southern Cairo, along with their three-year-old son.
Around three hours later, Mr. Lotfy and his son were released. The Maadi Prosecutor subsequently placed Ms. Amal Fathy under preventive detention for 15 days within the framework of Criminal case No. 7991 of 2018.
On May 12, 2018, Ms. Amal Fathy was transferred to Qanater women’s prison.
On May 13, 2018, Ms. Amal Fathy was questioned by the High State Security Prosecution about the “April 6 Youth Movement”, ECRF and the activities of her husband. She was then placed under preventive detention for an additional 15 days in the framework of another case, Criminal case No. 621 of 2018.
On May 24, the Maadi Prosecutor extended Ms. Amal Fathy’s preventive detention for 15 additional days within the framework of Case No. 7991 of 2018, without providing reason. Ms. Fathy appealed the decision. On May 30, 2018, Ms. Fathy’s appeal was rejected.
On June 7, 2018, the Maadi Prosecutor extended for the third time Ms. Amal Fathy’s preventive detention for a further 2-week period, without providing any reason.
Actions requested:
Please write to the authorities of Egypt asking them to:
i.Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Amal Fathy, Mr. Mohamed Lotfy, their relatives and all human rights defenders in Egypt;
ii. Immediately and unconditionally release Ms. Amal Fathy as her detention is arbitrary as it is merely aimed at punishing her for her human rights activities as well as those of her husband;
iii. Put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Ms. Amal Fathy as well as against Mr. Mohamed Lotfy and all human rights defenders in Egypt, and ensure that they are able to carry out their activities without hindrance;
iv. Conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially Articles 1, 6(c) and 12.2; and
v. More generally, ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international and regional human rights 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. 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 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 missions or embassies of Egypt in your respective country.
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Geneva-Paris, June 22, 2018
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 the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and FIDH. The objective of this programme is to intervene 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 OMCT + 41 22 809 49 39 / + 41 22 809 49 29
Tel and fax FIDH + 33 1 43 55 25 18 / +33 1 43 55 18 80