مركز هشام مبارك للقانون

Egyptian Demonstrators Defense Committee* Statement no. 23

A major case is being prepared for Kefaya

Interrogations start with political activist George Ishaaq Another activist arrested in Gharbeyya governorate A journalist arrested from in front of Mahalla police station 10 April 2008 Since the arrest of George Ishaaq yesterday at 7 pm, lawyers have been trying to locate him in Kasr el Nil and Abdin police stations, in Kasr El Nil and Abdin prosecution and in SSI headquarters, with no success. They submitted a complaint by telegram to the offices of the public prosecutor and the minister of interior. After four hours of search and inquiry to no avail, we observed some security measures indicating Ishaaq's presence in high emergency state security prosecution in New Cairo. The massive security blockade surrounding the building, the obstruction of lawyers' access to the prosecution, the arrival of the car of the public attorney and before him several chief prosecutors, all indicated that the building is about to receive a person of the caliber of George Ishaaq, one of the main prominent leaders of the Kefaya movement. Consequently a call was released to a large number of lawyers and colleagues who gathered in the location, resulting in a change in the security's attitude allowing the lawyers in. The interrogation began at 12.30 and lasted until today at 3.30 am. The following charges were made to Ishaaq: Organization of a gathering in collaboration with others, with the aim to commit crimes of aggression against individuals, treasury and public property; the use of force and violence with the aim of affecting the performance of public authorities, in the context of which the following crimes were committed: Deliberate destruction of buildings, public property with the aim to spread chaos; the sue of force and violence against public employees to force them to unrightfully abstain from undertaking their responsibilities, blocking of public transportation and exposing them to danger; deliberate setting fire to buildings, inhabited locales and committing crimes of theft and violence. The arrest report included the following: A permit was issued since the 5^{th of April 2008 to arrest George from Cairo, Sami Francis from Mahalla (Arrested), Fathi El Hefnawi from Bassioun (arrested yesterday at 9 pm). Lawyers documented that they have read the arrest report and that the papers did no involve a warrant for arrest or an investigation report. They were not given access to those documents. Evidence: Three envelopes Envelope 1: 1- Photocopy of a document: Three stage strategy for the development of the Egyptian movement for change. 2- A second document: The real achievement of the Kefaya movement. 3- A third document: Stay at home (slogan for the 6th of April) Envelope 2: Contains a number of statements titled: A successful battle and an ongoing struggle. Reading the statement it was found to praise those who participated or sympathized with the call for the protest strike on the 6th of April. The statement also refers to the barbaric violence in the heroic streets of Mahalla. Photocopies of handwritten documents: The first, instructions of how to deal with the Brotherhood; the second, minutes of a meeting between Kefaya and Mohamed Hassanen Heikal on the 14th of February 2006; the third, three stage strategy. Envelope 3: Ishaaq's mobile phone; a red file including papers, printed documents, photocopied documented, handwritten documents including invoices, cash receipts, expenditure lists, bank statements, cost lists, list of Kefaya leaders, a report issued by the Democracy and Human rights office regarding human rights practices in Egypt, publication on renewal of citizenship bond, some printouts from the internet, articles downloaded from the internet, three copies of a Kefaya booklet: Issues for debate, the yellow Kefaya sticker. None of the evidence was sealed with red wax. Lawyers noted that all envelopes were open. Ishaaq denied possession of any of the above except his mobile phone. The prosecution addressed him with 30 questions regarding the above mentioned charges. He denied all of them. The prosecution decided to proceed with the interrogation tomorrow. Further arrests - Fathi El Hefnawi, a Kefaya activist and member of El Karama party (under establishment). The police arrested Fathi from his house, destroyed his furniture and took him to a place unknown to his family. It is likely that he will be interrogated by high emergency state security prosecution in New Cairo. - Intelligence at Mahalla police station arrested journalist Amina Abdel Rahman, working in El Tariq (the Road) newspaper. She was arrested from in front of the police station, while she was interviewing families of the detainees. She was summoned to the prosecution in the absence of her lawyer. The prosecution charged her of practicing journalism without permit. Her lawyer was not given access to the prosecutor's decision. The police station refused to inform him thereof. 4.30 a.m. 10th April 2008 http://hmlc.katib.org/news}