(EOHR/IFEX) – The following is a 6 December 1998 EOHR press release on the occasion of the release from detention of the organisation’s secretary-general, Hafez Abu Seada: **Updates IFEX alerts of 4 December and 3 December 1998** On the afternoon of 6 December 1998, the Higher State Security Prosecution ordered the release of Hafez Abu […]
(EOHR/IFEX) – The following is a 6 December 1998 EOHR press release on the
occasion of the release from detention of the organisation’s
secretary-general, Hafez Abu Seada:
**Updates IFEX alerts of 4 December and 3 December 1998**
On the afternoon of 6 December 1998, the Higher State Security Prosecution
ordered the release of Hafez Abu Seada, Secretary General of the Egyptian
Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) on bail of LE 500. On 1 December, the
prosecutor had ordered his imprisonment for fifteen days pending
investigations in connection with case number 945 of 1998/Higher State
Security. He was charged with accepting funds from a foreign country with
the aim of carrying out acts harmful to Egypt; disseminating information and
false allegations harmful to Egypt’s national interests; and receiving
donations without obtaining permission from the competent authorities.
The EOHR forwards its sincere thanks and highest gratitude to all human
rights centers and organizations; human rights activists locally, regionally
and internationally; political parties, unions and civil society
institutions; and to all the honest writers and journalists who were not
deceived by the misleading campaigns that intended to harm and discredit
EOHR’s image and the image of other human rights organizations to undermine
their role and existence. The EOHR highly appreciates all the support and
positive reactions received for the release of its secretary general. It
thanks all human rights institutions on the regional and international level
for their prompt response and the initiatives taken to send missions in
solidarity with the EOHR to demand the immediate release of its secretary
general, Hafez Abu-Seada.
The EOHR would also like to appeal to all organizations to continue to
support the case of Mostafa Zedan, lawyer at EOHR’s fieldwork unit. The EOHR
stresses its firm stance in defense of human rights and basic freedoms.
