Egypt

Egypt: Protester Killings Not Being Investigated

Published by on November 2, 2013

2 November 2013 Human Rights Watch Egypt’s authorities have yet to announce any move to investigate security force killings of protesters on October 6, 2013. Almost four weeks after police used lethal force to break up protests by Muslim Brotherhood supporters, the authorities have not said they have questioned, or intend to question, security forces about their use of firearms that day. The clashes left 57 people dead throughout Egypt, according to the Health Ministry, with no police deaths reported. “In dealing with protest after protest, Egyptian security forces escalate quickly and without warning to live ammunition, with deadly results,” Read the full article…

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Egypt: Draft Law Would Effectively Ban Protests

Published by on October 30, 2013

30 October 2013 Human Rights Watch A draft law on assembly awaiting ratification by the interim president would effectively give the police carte blanche to ban protest in Egypt. The bill would ban all demonstrations near official buildings, give the police absolute discretion to ban any other protest, and allow officers to forcibly disperse overall peaceful protests if even a single protester throws a stone. The bill would also require organizers to notify the police in advance of any public meeting of more than 10 people in a private or public place. It would allow the police to ban these Read the full article…

Egypt: Mass Attacks on Churches

Published by on August 22, 2013

22 August 2013 Human Rights Watch Egyptian authorities should take the necessary steps to protect churches and religious institutions against mob attacks, Human Rights Watch said today. Since August 14, 2013, attackers have torched and looted scores of churches and Christian property across the country, leaving at least four people dead. Authorities should also investigate why security forces were largely absent or failed to intervene even when they had been informed of ongoing attacks. Immediately following the violent dispersal of the Muslim Brotherhood sit-ins in Cairo on August 14, crowds of men attacked at least 42 churches, burning or damaging Read the full article…

Egypt: Many Protesters Shot in Head or Chest

Published by on July 28, 2013

28 July 2013 Human Rights Watch Many of the at least 74 pro-Morsy protesters killed in clashes with Egypt’s riot police and plain clothed men who stood alongside were shot in the head or chest. They were killed on July 27 over a period of several hours during clashes on a road near the Muslim Brotherhood’s sit-in at Rabaa al-Adawiya in eastern Cairo. Human Rights Watch interviewed seven witnesses to the violence and reviewed extensive video footage of the events. Medical staff interviewed by Human Rights Watch judged some of the deaths to be targeted killings because the position of Read the full article…

Information Centre Asylum and Migration Briefing Notes

Published by on July 15, 2013

Germany: Federal Office for Migration and Asylum 15 July 2013 Security situation On 25.06.13, several Taliban fighters attacked the presidential palace in Kabul. After explosions and gunfire erupted for more than an hour, the attackers were killed. On 01.07.13, an attack in northern Baghlan province claimed the lives of a district police chief and of three police officers. In the capital Kabul, members of the security forces killed a suicide bomber before he was able to detonate himself in front of the National Directorate of Security NDS. In western Badghis province, Taliban attacked three border checkpoints; twelve insurgents were killed Read the full article…

Egypt: ICRC Annual Report 2012

Published by on July 1, 2013

International Committee for the Red Cross July 2013 In May 2012, the Egyptian parliament let the country’s 31-year- old emergency law expire. The Muslim Brotherhood candidate, Mohammed Mursi, took over the presidency after winning the country’s first democratic elections in decades. In June, former President Hosni Mubarak and former Minister of Interior Habib el-Adli were sentenced to life in prison for their parts in the killing of protesters during the January 2011 uprising. Instances of unrest occurred throughout the year, with tensions flaring in the run-up to both the parliamentary and the presidential elections; following the elections, protests took place Read the full article…

Making love a crime: Criminalization of same-sex conduct in Sub-Saharan Africa

Published by on June 25, 2013

Amnesty International 25 June 2013 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report provides an analysis of the legal environment and wider context of human rights violations against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals in sub-Saharan Africa. Recent years have seen increasing reports of people being harassed, marginalized, discriminated against and attacked because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. This is occurring in countries whose legal systems still condone the criminalization of consensual same-sex behaviour, and in countries where the police and justice systems are failing to prevent these crimes from happening. The continued criminalization of consensual same-sex Read the full article…

The situation in the Middle East

Published by on June 10, 2013

Council of Europe: Parliamentary Assembly 10 June 2013 Summary The Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy reiterates its support for the “two States for two peoples” solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the 1967 borders, with limited and mutually agreed land swaps. Regretting the lack of progress in the peace process since 2010, the committee welcomes the newly intensified efforts of the American administration for a rapid resumption of the negotiations with a view to a long-lasting and just solution. Pending such a permanent settlement, interim arrangements could be made. In parallel to status issues, those of standards should Read the full article…

Egypt: Amnesty International Concerns: Law on Associations

Published by on May 29, 2013

Amnesty International 29 May 2013 Amnesty International presents the following analysis and recommendations on the draft law on associations, based on Egypt’s international human rights obligations, in particular stemming from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). Some amendments have been introduced to earlier drafts commented on by Amnesty International. However, the organization is concerned that draft law, in its current form as prepared by the Ministry of Local Development, amended after discussions in the Shura Council and dated 30 April, continues to retain provisions inconsistent with Read the full article…

Egypt: Amnesty International Annual Report 2013

Published by on May 23, 2013

Amnesty International 23 May 2013 Protests against military rule resulted in the killing of at least 28 protesters by security forces in Cairo and Suez. Riot police and the army used excessive force to disperse protesters, who later alleged that they were tortured or otherwise ill-treated in custody. Protests, sometimes violent, by opponents and supporters of the President took place in November and December. Unfair trials by Emergency Supreme State Security Courts continued and security forces continued to act above the law. Former President Hosni Mubarak and the former Minister of Interior were sentenced to life imprisonment for killings of Read the full article…