(EOHR/IFEX) – The following is a 22 September 2002 EOHR press release: The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) calls for the immediate release of the student Mohamed Ahmed Abdo Hegazy The EOHR is following up with deep concern the case of Mohamed Ahmed Abdo Hegazy (20 years old), who is a student at the […]
(EOHR/IFEX) – The following is a 22 September 2002 EOHR press release:
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) calls for the immediate release of the student Mohamed Ahmed Abdo Hegazy
The EOHR is following up with deep concern the case of Mohamed Ahmed Abdo Hegazy (20 years old), who is a student at the Social Service Institution. Mohamed was charged with spreading rumors that disrupt public security (Case no. 873 of 2002 – Supreme State Security). This charge was laid following the publication of his poetry.
The State Security Investigation in Port Said arrested the student on 5 September 2002. EOHR received information that Mohamed was ill-treated while at the State Security Investigation offices in Port Said as he was handcuffed and blindfolded. On 7 September, he appeared before the State Security Prosecution, which decided that he would be detained pending investigations until 18 September. On 18 September, the student’s detention was extended a further 15 days pending investigations and he was detained in Mazra’et Tora Prison.
The investigation was attended by EOHR’s representatives, Mr. Yasser Hassan (a lawyer and member of EOHR’s board of trustees), and legal representatives from EOHR’s Field Work Unit. EOHR calls for the immediate release of the defendant, as charges laid against him breach the right to freedom of opinion and expression, guaranteed by the Egyptian Constitution and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Egypt is a party.
EOHR is deeply concerned about the excessive detention of individuals pending investigations by the State Security. Therefore, EOHR calls for the immediate release of the defendant.
