In an unprecedented escalation, the Egyptian security forces, in the early hours of the morning, raided the headquarters of the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights, and arrested Mustafa Eissa, Head of Documentary unit at ECESR, and ECESR lawyer Mahmoud Bilal, as well as three other volunteers: Sherif Ashour, Hossam Mohamed Nasr, Sayed Mahmoud El-Sayed and Mohamed Adel. Eissa and volunteers with ECESR were staying late in ECESR premises completing a documentary film about the Iron and Steel Workers’ Strike, which was due to be presented at a press conference at ECESR’s office on Thursday, December 19, 2013 for the workers’ strike.
The undersigned organizations reiterate that attack is expected after an ongoing wave of official and media threats and incitement civil society organizations, for their role in exposing human rights violations.
What is currently happening is a clear scenario of suppressing any voice trying to oppose the abuses being practiced by the ministry of interior affairs and the National Security officers, in accordance to series of arrests and the unrealistic trials being held for a large number of individuals who object the policy practiced by the current political regime.
This incident is a repetition of a similar attack occurred after the popular Mawqeit Algamal “Battle of the Camel” on the third of February 2011 by the military police forces on the Hisham Mubarak Center for Law. All who were in the center, including Mr. Ahmed Seif al-Islam Hamad, a former director of the Hisham Mubarak Center were arrested.
Signing Organizations:
Arab Network for Human Rights Information
Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
Egyptian Foundation for Advancement of Childhood Conditions
El Nadeem Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence
Hisham Mubarak Law Center
Misryon Against Religious Discrimination
Nazra For Feminist Studies
New Woman Foundation
The Egyptian Association for Community Participation Enhancement
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