Unprecedented police aggression in Egypt

Seven human rights organizations have released a joint statement condemning police brutality in central Cairo on 27 April where security forces attacked, beat and threatened Egyptian citizens

Unprecedented police aggression in Egypt Security Forces turn city center into a platform of torture and terror

Cairo,Thursday noon, 27 April 2006

Cairo on the 27 April 2006 brings to the mind the days before the fall of Shaoshesko, the former Romanian dictator. Down town Cairo was turned into what resembles a military camp. Egyptian citizens were beaten, dragged across streets and kidnapped by police forces who were acting in hysteria against anybody present in the area surrounding the cessation court, the judges club and the bar association.

This police raid started yesterday afternoon when police troops attacked supporters of Egyptian judges protesting in their club across the street. About 18 political and rights activists were kidnapped. Hundreds of riot police were distributed throughout the city center to prepare for the raids that were to follow this morning.

Beginning this morning, police troops started to circle the judges’ club and prevent supporters from approaching. Then, they started attacking those already present around the club. Special forces troops in plainclothes and uniform spread to the neighboring streets, attacking and threatening citizens present in the vicinity of the club, the bar association and the court of cessation. The attacks were indiscriminate and brutal. Passersby could see citizens being kidnapped from the streets, pushed into the entrances of buildings and beaten up violently, before state security intelligence police made up their minds whether they were going to arrest them or let them go.

In view of the brutality of the police, hundreds of citizens in those areas joined the protesters resulting in a number of spontaneous demonstrations and gatherings in the area, a matter that provoked more violence by the police, turning the area into what resembles a battlefield.

The undersigned human rights organizations condemn this police brutality, which continues until the writing of this statement and calls upon international human rights organizations for their solidarity against the police state in Egypt that lives under the protection of its oppressive security troops.

Undersigned organizations: o Arab network for human rights information o Egyptian Association against Torture o Egyptian Association for Economic and Social Rights. o Egyptian Center for Housing rights. o Hisham Mubarak Law Center o Institution for Freedom of thought and expression o Nadim Center