Egypt: detained Morsi supporters denied access to lawyers
*At least 30 detainees held in secret locations, with over 250 in military camp
Scores of supporters of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi have been denied their basic legal rights after being detained in mass arrests in the country, said Amnesty today, with numerous cases of lawyers being barred from meeting detainees for days after the detentions took place.
Many of those arrested during the dispersal of the Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda sit-ins on 14 August were denied access to their lawyers for at least four days.
Amnesty has also learnt that there are at least 250 people being held in Cairo’s Al-Salam Central Security Forces camp, an unofficial place of detention, in violation of their rights. Meanwhile, at least 30 people arrested during violence near North Giza Court in Giza on 16 August are still being held in secret locations.
According to lawyers, since 3 July the Egyptian security forces have arrested at least 3,000 people, releasing some 600. At least 2,200 people are still being held in Tora, Abu Zabaal, Cairo Appeal, Wadi El-Natroon and El-Kanater prisons, and in the Al-Salam Central Security Forces camp.
Amnesty is concerned that among those arrested are men and women who were merely exercising their right to freedom of expression and assembly by protesting in support of the ousted former president. Many face a broad array of serious charges, including murder, attacking security personnel, possession of weapons, and inciting murder and other violence.
Amnesty International Middle East and North Africa Director Philip Luther said:
“All of those detained by the authorities must immediately be given access to their lawyers and families.
“Blocking access to legal representation is a serious violation of human rights. All those arrested must be given an effective opportunity to be heard promptly by a judicial officer in the presence of a legal representative, and to be entitled to a trial within a reasonable time or to release.
“Security forces and prosecutors must reveal precise information identifying the place of custody of those held in unknown locations.
“The way Egypt’s judicial system deals with these cases will test whether it can truly perform its functions fairly and impartially, free from the influence of the executive.”
Lawyers barred from visiting clients
Many detained protesters arrested during the dispersal of the Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda sit-ins on 14 August were denied access to their lawyers for at least four days. Muslim Brotherhood lawyers said they could not attend investigations because interrogations were conducted during curfew hours, or they had not been informed of their client’s location or the date and time of the investigations.
A lawyer from the Front to Defend Egypt’s Protesters, an independent lawyers’ group, told Amnesty that on 27 August security forces in Abu-Zaabal prison had barred his team of 50 lawyers from attending investigations and detention renewals of protesters arrested during the dispersal of Rabaa al-Adawiya sit-in on 14 August. Only 20 lawyers were allowed to attend investigation sessions at the prison, although there were more than 700 detainees being investigated there. Lawyers who did attend told Amnesty that investigation sessions involving 600 persons lasted for only 15 minutes without detainees or lawyers being given the chance to present their defence. In many cases this meant detainees were questioned without lawyers present. In addition, several investigation sessions by the prosecutor were held in police stations, prisons or Central Security Forces camps. The presence of security personnel in the vicinity could cast doubt over the impartiality of the investigations.
Meanwhile, in many instances, detainees were not brought before a judge within 24 hours, as required by Egyptian law, leading to extended detention periods.
Crowded cells, denial of medical care
Among those arrested on 16 August during violence in Ramsis Square, 80 people - 77 men and three women - were held for at least 14 days at Hadayek El-Kubba police station in two cells designed to hold a maximum of 20 prisoners per cell. The women were held separately.
Among the women detainees was one with a broken leg, who was held for four days without being transferred to hospital or being allowed to see a doctor. Her repeated requests for medical help were refused. She was only transferred to a hospital on the prosecutor’s orders after her detention had been renewed. Amnesty urges the authorities to grant detainees requiring medical attention access to doctors.
Secret detentions
Amnesty has also learned that there are at least 250 people being held in Cairo’s Al-Salam Central Security Forces camp, an unofficial place of detention, in violation of their rights.
Meanwhile, at least 30 people arrested during violence near North Giza Court in Giza on 16 August continue to be held in unknown locations.
Background
The mass arrests were carried out after the security forces used excessive force against pro-Morsi protests or following armed clashes between rival camps in Cairo, including during incidents in the area of Al-Moqattam (30 June), the Republican Guards Club (5 and 8 July), in the vicinity of the Unknown Soldier Mausoleum (27 July), during the dispersals of the Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda sit-ins (14 August), and in Ramsis Square (16 August).