Human Rights Worker's Detention Extended for Sixth Time

Egyptian authorities are urged to end the needless detention of this peaceful man.

Human rights defender Mr El Hussieny Hassan Photo courtesy: frontlinedefenders.org

(LONDON) - Mr Ibrahim Mehleb
Magles El Shaab Street,
Kasr El Aini Street,
Cairo,
Arab Republic of Egypt

Your Excellency,

I am William Nicholas Gomes, Human rights activist and freelance journalist.

On 5 August 2014, the Investigative Judge of the Criminal Division of South Giza court extended the detention of human rights defender Mr El Hussieny Hassan for the sixth time.

El Hussieny Hassan is a journalist and a member of the Andalus Institute for Tolerance and Anti-Violence Studies, an organisation that promotes tolerance and rights-based approaches to resolving conflict. He also works as a journalist reporting human rights violations on the organisation's online radio programme, Horytna (Our Freedom).

Police officers initially arrested El Hussieny Hassan on 21 February 2014 while he was monitoring demonstrations in the Haram district of Cairo. During interrogations, the human rights defender informed the police of his human rights work and presented documentation signed and stamped by the organisation.

The police referred the human rights defender to the public prosecution via Police Report No. 2628/2014.

El Hussieny Hassan has been charged with membership of a terrorist group; use of force and violence; arson; damaging public and private property; chanting slogans against army and police; blocking the road and obstructing traffic; participating in an unauthorised gathering and demonstration; and attempted murder of a news reporter.

On 5 August 2014, the Investigative Judge of the Criminal Division of South Giza court ordered the extension of the detention of El Hussieny Hassan, who has been detained for six months. A date for his trial has yet to be announced.

Like many human rights defenders in Egypt, El Hussieny Hassan has been detained for his peaceful work monitoring human rights violations during public protests.

I urge the authorities in Egypt to:

1. Immediately release El Husseiny Hassan and drop all charges against him, as it is believed that they are solely motivated by his peaceful and legitimate work in promotion of human rights;

2. Ensure that the treatment of El Husseiny Hassan, while in detention adheres to the conditions set out in the 'Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment', adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 43/173 of 9 December 1988;

3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Egypt are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.

Yours Sincerely,
William Nicholas Gomes
Human Rights Activist and Freelance Journalist
www.williamnicholasgomes.com
Twitter: @Wnicholasgomes