Press Releases

19 January 2011

Memo to the Prime Minister| Strengthening the Pillars of the Civil State and Achieving Equality Requires the Formation of a Commission to Include Representatives from Social Sectors Denied Equality

Yesterday the Forum for Independent Egyptian Human Rights Organizations submitted a memo to Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif asking that he form a commission under the cabinet to assume the mission of activating constitutional guarantees for citizenship, equality, and equal opportunity for all Egyptians, regardless of religion, belief, ethnicity, or place of birth.

15 January 2011

Widespread Security Abuses during Investigations of Alexandria Bombings

Cairo, Geneva, 15 January 2011- Alkarama Foundation (Geneva) and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (Cairo) today condemned the arbitrary arrests and other violations committed by Egyptian security forces following the bombings at the Two Saints Church in Alexandria earlier this month. The two organizations called on the Public Prosecutor to investigate these abuses, hold those responsible accountable and refer them to a speedy trial.

4 January 2011

Joint Statement by 12 Egyptian Human Rights Organizations... Let the Massacre in Alexandria Be the Beginning of the End of Failed Government Policies

Twelve human rights organizations under the umbrella of the Forum for Independent Egyptian Human Rights Organizations strongly condemn the bombings which took place on New Year's day targeting worshippers leaving Saints Church in Alexandria after New Year's church service. The bombings killed 22 and injured at least 97 others according to official figures. Until the writing of this press release no group has claimed responsibility for this crime.

28 December 2010

The Egyptian Government Must Intervene Immediately to Save African Hostages in Sinai... Terrifying Details of Torture and Mass Rape While Officials Remain in Denial

Thirteen Egyptian human rights organizations expressed their distress today about the Egyptian government’s continuing dismissal of reports confirming the detention, torture and rape of hundreds of African hostages in Sinai by human trafficking gangs over the last few months. The gangs are demanding ransoms of thousands of dollars for their release.

14 December 2010

Rights Groups Challenge Detention without Charge or Trial in Egypt... Case of Detainee Imprisoned 15 Years Reaches African Commission

CAIRO, December 14, 2010- Egypt’s administrative detention policy is being challenged before the African Commission in a case filed last month by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights and the Open Society Justice Initiative. The client, Mohammed Abderrahim El Sharkawi, has been detained for 15 years, 14 of which have been under Egypt’s Emergency Law. He has not been charged or tried.

13 December 2010

ACTA: When Intellectual Property Threatens the Health of the Poor... The EIPR Warns: the Agreement may Create New International Trade Policies

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) issued today a briefing note on the latest Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) text. The paper presents the risk that the plurilateral agreement poses to public health, as the Agreement seeks to strengthen the enforcement of intellectual property rights.

24 November 2010

EIPR Condemns Security Violence against Coptic Demonstrators... The Public Prosecutor Must Prosecute the Security Personnel Responsible for the Death of One Christian and the Injury of Dozens More in Omraniya

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) condemned today the use of excessive violence by security forces against Coptic demonstrators who were protesting the suspension of construction on a church in the Talibiya area of Giza this morning. The violence left at least one Christian demonstrator dead and dozens more injured, including some security personnel.

24 November 2010

Update| The Public Prosecutor's Office Prevents Lawyers from Attending Interrogations of Copts Accused in Omraniya Events

On the evening of Wednesday 24 November 2010, at around 8:00 pm more than 30 lawyers went to the southern Giza office of the public prosecutor to attend the questioning of those accused in the Omraniya police complaint (no.17262/2010) concerning the arrest of a number of Copts on the morning of 24 November 2010 in the area of Omraniya during events related to the construction of a church in that area.

24 November 2010

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights Releases a Report on the Law to Combat Trafficking in Persons

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) released today a report entitled "Law on Combating Trafficking in Persons: A Welcome Step that Requires Careful Implementation". The report welcomes Law no 64/2010 on Combating Trafficking in Persons as a positive step to address human trafficking crimes, and provides the state with recommendations for the implementation of the law's provisions.

27 October 2010

Misdemeanor Judge Orders Release of Shi’ite Suspects on LE10,000 Bail Each

The Marg misdemeanor court yesterday ordered the release on bail of five Shi’ites charged with showing contempt for religion; bail was set at LE10,000 for each suspect. State Security Investigations (SSI) had arrested several Shi’ites of various nationalities more than 35 days ago, after which the Supreme State Security Prosecutor charged them with showing contempt for the Sunni confession and other charges related to their sectarian affiliation.