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Press Release: 25/7/2001
The Association for Human Rights Legal Aid calls for a re-trial of the Police officer charged with torture The Agouza criminal court sentenced first Lieutenant of police Mohamed Abdel Badee' to a two year prison sentence with labor, after finding him guilty of intentionally beating citizen Ahmed Imam Abdel Naeem to death inside the Agouza police station. This small victory came as a result of efforts of the lawyers of the Association for Human Rights Legal Aid (AHRLA). AHRLA expresses its growing anxiety concerning the number of citizens' deaths inside police stations as a result of their being exposed to torture and other forms of harsh, inhuman and degrading treatment. This is a dangerous indicator of the security forces' attitude to the lives and dignity of Egyptians, and exposes the absence of necessary measures of restraint on the behavior of those officers known to be involved in such crimes. AHRLA calls for the Public Prosecutor to appeal the verdict and carry out a second trial, charging the accused with torture as opposed to 'beating that led to death', in accordance with article one of the International convention against torture, which became legally binding after Egypt's signing it, and which accordingly cancels the provisions of paragraph (1) of article 126 of the Penal Code allowing torture to be used in cases where confessions are needed. The case history goes back to the 17th of June of last year, when the accused officer dragged the victim along the ground outside his cell and started kicking him on the head, chest, and other parts of the body. When Ahmed Imam pleaded with him: "Have pity, either relieve me or kill me", the accused responded: "I will relieve you and I will kill you Ahmed Imam", whereupon he intensified his kicking, concentrating on the head and neck area. He then ordered fellow detainees to drag him along to another detention room, where he proceeded to hang him from his hands to the door using handcuffs. It was in this position that Ahmed Imam died, victim of an atrocious crime of torture and killing with intent, an outcome that was confirmed by the forensic examination, in which the death was reported to be the result of "contusions resulting in fractured ribs and accompanying shock". AHRLA brings these events to public attention, and stresses that crimes of torture, as well as all forms of harsh, inhuman and degrading treatment, require the Public Prosecution to fulffil its legal responsibilities to the full, through periodic and surprise inspections of detention centers in order to monitor the common forms of police excesses as well as through carrying out a serious and rapid investigation into all plaints brought by citizens concerning police crimes, the speedy referral of torture victims to medical examiners in order to have early proof of their injuries, and through getting the legal process started, with regards to all the illegal physical abuse brought about by the perpetrators. AHRLA would like to strongly emphasize that torture is a crime against humanity and a terrible degradation of human dignity that can under no conditions be justified. The Association likewise stresses that eliminating it will only be possible when there is a strong political will to do so, by ensuring relevant monitoring is in place in order to stop those who make light of human life and the rights of citizens. |