DATE=5/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249324
TITLE=EGYPT / TORTURE (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: EGYPT'S LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION SAYS IT WILL
APPEAL A GOVERNMENT DECISION TO DROP CHARGES OF TORTURE AGAINST
FOUR POLICE OFFICERS. AS CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM
CAIRO, THE CHARGES STEMMED FROM A CASE OF REPORTED POLICE
BRUTALITY THAT RECEIVED WIDESPREAD PUBLICITY ABROAD.
TEXT: THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE EGYPTIAN ORGANIZATION FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS, HAFEZ ABUL SAIDA, TOLD V-O-A (THURSDAY) HIS
ORGANIZATION IS TAKING ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THE EXONERATION OF
THE FOUR POLICEMEN.
/// OPT SAIDA ACT ONE ///
OUR LAWYER WILL APPEAL THIS DECISION AND WE ASK FOR AN
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR TO INVESTIGATE THIS CASE.
/// END ACT // END OPT ///
MR. SAIDA EXPRESSED DISMAY OVER REPORTS THAT THE FOUR OFFICERS
WERE TO BE PAID COMPENSATION FOR THE INVESTIGATION. HE SAID THIS
AMOUNTED TO REWARDING AN OFFICER ACCUSED OF TORTURE.
THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT LAUNCHED THE INVESTIGATION LAST
SEPTEMBER, AFTER MR. SAIDA'S ORGANIZATION REPORTED HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE HAD BEEN TORTURED AS PART OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE
MURDER OF A COPTIC CHRISTIAN IN THE VILLAGE OF AL-KUSHEH,
400-KILOMETERS SOUTH OF CAIRO.
THE GOVERNMENT SAID IT CLOSED THE INVESTIGATION AFTER IT FAILED
TO FIND SIGNS OF TORTURE AMONG THE 15 PEOPLE WHO MADE THE
CHARGES. MR. SAIDA SAID EXAMINATIONS OF THE INDIVIDUALS WERE
CONDUCTED TOO LONG AFTER THE ALLEGED INCIDENT. HE SAID HIS
ORGANIZATION STOOD BY ITS REPORT, WHICH WAS BASED ON INTERVIEWS
WITH NUMEROUS ALLEGED VICTIMS SHORTLY AFTER THEY WERE RELEASED.
THE INCIDENT WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS BY THE LOCAL COPTIC BISHOP. COPTIC LOBBY GROUPS
ABROAD SUBSEQUENTLY ACCUSED EGYPT OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.
MR. SAIDA SAYS THE INCIDENT WAS NOT ONE OF RELIGIOUS
PERSECUTION, BUT RATHER OF POLICE BRUTALITY, WHICH HE SAYS IS A
ROUTINE METHOD OF INTERROGATION BY EGYPTIAN POLICE.
/// REST OPT ///
/// SAIDA ACT TWO ///
THIS IS A COMMON THING THAT HAPPENS DAILY, AND NOT
BECAUSE THIS IS A CHRISTIAN OR THIS IS A MUSLIM. THIS
IS SYSTEMATIC OF THE POLICE.
/// END ACT ///
THE NEGATIVE PUBLICITY ANGERED THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT WHICH IS
SENSITIVE TO CHARGES OF RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE. THE GOVERNMENT
BLAMED SOME MEMBERS OF THE FOREIGN NEWS MEDIA FOR SEEKING TO
TARNISH ITS IMAGE ABROAD.
MR. SAIDA WAS DETAINED BRIEFLY AND STILL FACES CHARGES OF
DISSEMINATING INFORMATION THAT HARMS PUBLIC SECURITY. THE BISHOP
OF AL-KUSHEH (BISHOP WISSA) ALSO FACES CHARGES OF WITNESS
TAMPERING AND IS REPORTED TO BE OUT OF THE COUNTRY. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH/RAE
13-May-99 11:07 AM EDT (1507 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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