Free activists and journalists in Egypt: Amnesty International call to action

A group of human rights workers has been detained in Cairo as part of a sudden, brutal crackdown by Egyptian security forces on independent reporting of the country’s growing unrest. The group includes activists, journalists, a delegate from Human Rights Watch and two Amnesty International staff members. Amnesty has stated that when human rights observers are not allowed the freedom to do their crucial work, the people of Egypt are in even greater danger. Click on the link to send a message to the Egyptian Defence Ministry to release these and all other prisoners of conscience in Egypt now.

"At a time when serious human rights abuses are taking place in Egypt, the raid on the offices of the Hisham Mubarak Center and detention of our colleagues is deeply disturbing," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch in a media release on February 3. "But it is totally unacceptable that they have given us no information about their whereabouts. The authorities must urgently clarify where they are holding our researcher and other colleagues and they should release all of them now."

"Holding human rights activists is completely unacceptable and is indicative of an increasing clampdown on freedom of expression in Egypt." said Salil Shetty, secretary-general of Amnesty International. "We hold the Egyptian authorities responsible for the safety of all those in detention including our staff and call for their safe and immediate release."

After protests to Egyptian Government Authorities, researchers from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International and two foreign journalists were released on February 4. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called for the immediate release of Egyptian human rights activists and lawyers. "We are delighted our international colleagues have been released," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch in a media release. "But the Egyptian lawyers and rights monitors held should be freed at once."

According to an Amnesty International media release, Eye-witnesses outside the building where the detainees were arrested said they were taken away with a military escort.

Local colleagues of the arrested Egyptian lawyers believe that the group is being detained by the military police at Camp 75, a military camp located in Manshiyet el-Bakri, a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Cairo. When lawyers went to Camp 75 and requested access to their detained colleagues, the army officials refused to confirm that they had any of the missing in detention.

The Egyptian authorities have also not provided foreign embassies with any information about where the detainees are being kept, or provided a reason for their arrest.

Remaining in detention are Ahmed Seif Al Islam, the former director of the Hisham Mubarak Law Center, and at least nine other lawyers associated with the Hisham Mubarak Law Center or volunteers from the Front to Defend Egypt's Protesters.

"The Egyptian government should never have arrested human rights monitors and journalists in the first place," said Roth. "The Egyptians still being held have a vital role to play as Egypt's crisis and serious human right abuses continue. The authorities need to free them without further delay."

"We are greatly relieved by the release of our staff members and those freed with them," said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International. "But it is simply outrageous that the Egyptian activists arrested with them have not also been freed. There can be no justification for continuing to detain them. They must be released immediately, unconditionally, and returned in safety to their families.” she said in a media release on February 5