Returning from a fact-finding mission on the death penalty in Egypt, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) joins its voice to the protests of several Egyptian human rights organizations against the behaviour of the Egyptian security forces in the Sinai.
After the attacks against civilians including Israeli tourists in TABA on 7 October 2004, where 38 persons were killed and 135 wounded, massive arrests have been conducted in the surrouding towns of El Arish and El Sheikh-Zwaid.
According to detailed investigations carried out by several organizations [1], more than 5.000 persons, including men and women, have been arrested (according to the Egyptian authorities 800 persons were arrested). Many of them have been subjected to systematic torture and it is reported that several people have died and that others are hospitalized.
Furthermore, many of the arrested people have been detained under administrative detention for an indeterminate duration in the absence of any judicial procedure. Administrative detention is provided for under the emergency law which has been into force since October 1981.
This situation is another example of human rights abuses being committed in various regions of the world under the pretext of counter-terrorism, which the FIDH is constantly denouncing. The fight against terrorism is legitimate and indispensable, however, it must respect fundamental rights.
The FIDH along with the Egyptian human rights defenders, urges the Egyptian authorities to investigate the alleged human rights violations committed by the security forces in the Sinai and to sanction the authors of such abuses.
The FIDH recalls that any person arrested in the framework of the fight against terrorism must be informed of the charges against him and brought before ordinary courts rather than military tribunals, which fall short of international standards relating to the right to a fair trial. If such charges do not exist, the detainees must be released without delay.