On 19 April 2016, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found the detention
of Mr. Abdel Fattah to be arbitrary and recommended that the Egyptian Government
immediately release him and provide him with adequate reparation
(A/HRC/WGAD/2016).
Mr. Mohamed El-Baqer is a human rights lawyer and the director of the Adalah
Center for Rights and Freedoms, an organisation providing legal support for political
prisoners, and promoting civil and political rights in Egypt.
Ms. Esraa Abdel Fattah is a woman human rights defender and a journalist. She
worked as a coordinator at the Egyptian Democratic Academy (EDA), a youth
organisation promoting the values of democracy, human rights and political participation.
She is known for actively promoting workers’ rights and democracy. She has recently
publicly called for the release of all prisoners detained during the September protests.
Ms. Esraa Abdel Fattah was the subject of a joint communication sent by Special
Procedures mandate holders on 12 June 2015 (case no. EGY 10/2015). We acknowledge
receipt of the response from your Excellency’s Government to this communication dated
18 August 2015, however we regret that it does not provide detailed answers that are
specific to the questions raised therein and remain concerned in light of the new
allegations detailed below.
According to the new information received:
On 20 and 21 September 2019, a number of peaceful protests took place in cities
across Egypt, including in Cairo, Alexandria, Al-Mahalla, Giza, Damietta,
Mansoura and Suez. Protesters called for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to step
down and also demonstrated against government corruption and austerity
measures, which have reportedly and disproportionally affected persons on lower
incomes and the most vulnerable of society.
In response to the demonstrations, security forces allegedly rounded up and
arrested many of the protesters and used excessive force against them, including
the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition, resulting in injuries.
Reportedly, during, after and since the protests to the present, authorities have
arrested at least 3,000 people, including protesters and bystanders, journalists,
academics, lawyers and prominent human rights defenders. A number of the
arrests allegedly took place after security forces stopped and searched citizens and
journalists in the street and on public transportation, specifically checking for
photos and videos of the protests on mobile phones.
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