8 May 2009

In a precedent of its kind, the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) denounced the Military court’s verdict issued on April 2008 sentencing 25 MB leaders for terms ranging from 3-10 years.

In its latest annual report, the NCHR criticized the arrest campaign launched last year by the Egyptian security apparatus against MB affiliates by virtue of the Emergency Law affecting 7,588 MB affiliates.

“Security authorities typically launched dozens of campaigns against MB members with the salience of mass demonstrations or efforts, on the part of the MB, to dispatch relief convoys to the Palestinians under siege in Gaza,” the report explained.

The report further pointed out that the arrests had reached their peak during preparations for the municipal elections and protests against the Israeli offensive in Gaza denouncing the Ministry of Interior’s determination in failing to execute release orders issued in favor of the imprisoned.

The report also condemned the violations witnessed in the complimentary elections of the Parliament and Shura Council as well as the municipal elections pointing to security apparatus’ exclusion of 10,000 MB candidates in the municipal elections despite 3,000 of them receiving court rulings of their right to candidacy.

The report further monitored Egypt’s retreat in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index ranking 115 in 2008, after ranking 105 in 2007 and 70 in 2006. The report also condemned the government’s failure to execute the Administrative court’s decision of halting Egyptian gas exportation to Israel.

The report also monitored 19 death cases due to torture in police divisions or by means of force used by security forces to dismiss mass sit-ins, or by means of police cops using their personal weapons in quarrels with citizens.

The report recommended the cancellation of the emergency situation and transferal of the Anti-Terror Law to societal dialogue with the aim of reaching an ideal form for it, and the development of laws concerning national societies and professional associations in a way that guarantees the lifting of restrictions imposed by law 100 of 1993 and law 84 of 2002.

The report also called on the Ministry of Interior to improve the living and health conditions of prisoners and detainees and to activate judicial supervision over prisons, police divisions, and detention centers.