Conclusion and Recommendations

The statements contained in this report and the field investigation conducted by EIPR researchers are not, of course, a substitute for an official, comprehensive, independent investigation into the circumstances and events surrounding the attacks in Naga Hammadi. Faced with the absence of such an official investigation, the basic contribution of any non-governmental fact-finding mission primarily consists of identifying the right questions, though not necessarily providing answers.

As such, the pivotal questions raised by this report as formulated by witnesses who gave statements are:

1. Given the background information we provide at the beginning of this report, were the attacks of 6 January connected with electoral alliances and power struggles in the Naga Hammadi district in anticipation of the parliamentary elections scheduled for fall 2010?

2. Did the local or district security apparatus receive any information prior to the 6 January attacks about the threats received by the bishop and Copts of Naga Hammadi, or any other indication of possible attacks on Coptic Christmas? What did security do with this information? Did security fail to anticipate the attacks?

3. What were the details of the plans for securing churches and Coptic areas in Naga Hammadi and Farshout during New Year’s and Christmas? Was the security presence sufficient given the sectarian attacks witnessed in the area since November 2009? Did the security apparatus do its part to confront these attacks?

The EIPR makes the following the recommendations to the President, the Public Prosecutor and the Speakers of the People’s Assembly and Shura Council:

1. Conduct an official, comprehensive, independent investigation—either through the Public Prosecutor’s Office, an independent special commission with legal authority or intermix of the two—to identify those responsible for the attacks of January 2010, either by commission or omission. The investigation should extend to the circumstances surrounding the attacks, at least since the events of Farshout in November 2009 until 10 February 2010.

2. Prosecute those responsible for sectarian attacks in Naga Hammadi, Bahgoura and Tarkas from 6 to 9 January 2010 in a criminal court and disburse fair compensation to those harmed in the attacks.

3. Immediately release all those held illegally, both Muslims and Christians, from the Naga Hammadi police station, and hold to account all those responsible for arbitrary arrests and illegal detentions.

4. Conduct an immediate, independent investigation into reports of the torture and abuse of detainees in the State Security police headquarters in Naga Hammadi and refer those officers and aides responsible to criminal courts on charges of torture.

5. Drop all charges against civil society activists who were part of a delegation expressing solidarity with Naga Hammadi residents; facilitate the work of the media and civil society as vital partners in confronting discrimination and religious bigotry.
 
6. Guarantee the right of all those charged to a fair trial, including their right to appear before a regular court, and refrain from using the State of Emergency and exceptional courts.