Egypte: attaque contre la défenseuse des droits humains Dr Magda Adly

Your Excellency,

I am deeply concerned following reports of an attack against human rights defender, Dr Magda Adly. Dr Magda Adly is a medical professional with the El Nadim Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Victims of Violence, an organisation that assists victims of torture and violence through research, training, counselling and raising public awareness.

On 30 April 2008, Dr Magda Adly was reportedly attacked with a knife by a police officer in a courtroom in Kafr El Dawwar, in the district of Beheira, while she attended the hearing of Sobhy Mohamed Hussein and his sons Ahmed and Mohamed. She had visited them in police custody the previous day where she observed that they had been subject to torture. In addition, the members of their family had given her their blood-stained clothes testifying to physical abuse at the time of their arrest. Dr Magda Adly presented these clothes to the judge during the hearing.

Dr Magda Adly was attacked by a police officer as she left the courtroom. She suffered a broken shoulder in the attack, as well as injuries to the head and she lost consciousness for thirty minutes. The police officer then attempted to escape but was prevented and taken into custody. He later admitted that he was following the orders of Ahmed Maklad, an intelligence officer who was implicated in the allegations of torture and ill-treatment against the three men. The hearing established that the detention order against Sobhy Mohamed Hussein and his sons would be extended. Mostafa Hussein, a psychiatrist at the El Nadim Centre, believes that the arrest and torture of Sobhy Mohamed Hussein and his sons, in particular Ahmed Mohamed Hussein, may be related to their refusal to work as informers for the police.

During the hearing, the car of Dr Mona Hamdy, another psychiatrist at the El Nadim Centre, which was parked outside the courtroom, was vandalised.

I believe that the attack against Dr Magda Adly is related to her legitimate work in the defence of human rights, in particular her work to defend the rights of victims of violence and torture. I am concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Magda Adly, as well as that of all members of the El Nadim Centre.

I urge the Egyptian authorities to:

1. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the attack on Dr Magda Adly, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice;

2. Guarantee the security and physical and psychological integrity of Dr Magda Adly, as well as that of all members of the El Nadim Centre;

3. Ensure that all human rights defenders in Egypt, including doctors such as Dr Magda Adly, carrying out their legitimate work in the defence of human rights, are able to operate free of restrictions and reprisals.

I respectfully remind you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals.

I would particularly draw your attention to Article 11: “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to the lawful exercise of his or her occupation or profession (...),” and to Article 12 (2): “The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threat, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.”

Yours sincerely,