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Cairo,25/6/2003
To transfer immediately the 12 police officers to the court with charges of torturing and forgery The Association for Human Rights Legal Aid adjures Mr. Attorney General to soon fix a hearing session and transfer the 12 accused police officers to the court upon the verdict issued by Alexandria Criminal Court in the lawsuit No 43086/1997 Al-Montazah Criminals (1312 total east). The police officers are charged with forging official papers, agreeing on and helping in forgery, using a false official proceeding against the victim Mohamed Badr Eldin Gomaa, torturing Gomaa and detaining his relatives forcing him to confess falsely! AHRLA draws the attention to the fact that the investigations in this lawsuit had been over. And the Advocate General for East Alexandria had submitted the note of transference that was sent by the Attorney General on 24/2/2003. Though six months had been passed since then, a hearing session at the court have not been fixed yet. In this context, the association for human rights legal aid reminds those who are responsible for holding justice with the fact that slow justice encourages the continuation of these inhuman practices, that would be reflected on citizens' attitude towards the judiciary as a whole, and also would made them feel lack of security and safety. The importance of the role played by the Attorney General emerges from his being the responsible for realizing and recognizing the rights of both the individuals and society, so that victims are depending on him in getting compensated from those slaughters. Relying on that, the Association for Human Rights Legal Aid is asking the Attorney General to soon issue his orders in responding to all the reports and complaints submitted to him, in which police officers are charged with torture, using cruelty and misusing power. AHRLA appeals to the Attorney General to submit these torturers to the court immediately. Also, AHRLA is calling Mr. Minister of Interior to suspend the charged officers till a final judgment issued in the complaints submitted against them, repeating the call to the legislator to review the Egyptian legislations that hinder suing and punishing the torturers, for these legislations must be amended to allow the plaintiff to claim directly against the perpetrators, and also considering any harm to the safety of body as a torture crime that should be punished strictly. The Association for Human Rights Legal Aid repeatedly expresses its sincere respect to the fair unbiased judiciary in standing up to these crimes with its just sentences, hoping that these sentences would be a deterrent for those who commit such inhuman crimes breaking laws, the constitution, international treaties and conventions of Human Rights and the principals of mercy and justice as well. AHRLA is looking forward to obtaining the support of the public opinion and the civil society organizations in its pursuit and attempts to stop the phenomenon of torture inside police stations and different places of detention, Also, AHRLA is looking forward to establishing more organizations specialized in fighting and standing up to torture phenomenon, welling to provide any needed aid or to offer any offered cooperation. |