CAIRO: The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) released a statement saying it will renew its demands to release the five alleged Quranist detainees, accused of contempt for religion, who have been held since last May, in addition to demanding an investigation into at least one detainee’s claims of being beaten and threatened with rape during the time he spent at a state security prison.
Hossam Bahgat, president of EIPR, told The Daily Star Egypt that the security court has ordered the release of three of them who are still waiting for clearance from the Ministry of Interior. The other two are still detained.
“We think the interior minister should not appeal and should release the five detainee, he said, “we attended all the investigation sessions held by the prosecution and believe that they are detained solely because of personal beliefs.
According to the statement, state security officers arrested Abdel Latif Mohamed Ahmed, Ahmed Mohamed Dehmash and Abdel Hamid Mohamed Abdel Rahman on May 29 following an order from the Minister of Interior. Two days after Amr Thawrat El Baz was arrested and on June 17, Ayman Mohamed Abdel Rahman too was taken in.
The detainees were not allowed to contact their families or lawyers until June 21, four days after the prosecution began its investigation. The list of accused alleged Quranists also includes Ahmed Sobhy Mansour and Othman Mahmoud, who live abroad.
Bahgat alleged that during the investigation session held on June 28, Abdel Latif Mohamed, one of the accused, was subjected to beating on his face and his back and was also threatened with rape to extract a confession.
“Until now the subject is pending further investigation, EIPR lawyer Adel Ramadan told The Daily Star Egypt.
Ramdan added that it is unacceptable to investigate anyone’s personal belief system, which is what the court is doing.
According to Ramadan, the Quranists are a group of Muslims who believe that the Quran should be the only frame of reference in Islam, dismissing large parts of the sunnah (actions and sayings) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
