(AFP PHOTO)
The Ministry of Interior confirmed to Daily News Egypt that nine of former President Mohamed Morsi’s aides are being held in Tora Prison, having been reportedly held incommunicado and without charge since 3 July.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Egypt’s military on Sunday of the “enforced disappearance” of five of the former president’s top aides. The international human rights watchdog said that five out of the nine aides listed in the report “remain detained without any legal basis at an undisclosed location.”
Spokesman for the Ministry of Interior Hany Abdel Latif confirmed to Daily News Egypt that all nine men are being held in Tora prison and said that the Prosecutor General’s office could provide details of the charges. The Prosecutor General’s office referred the issue to the State Security Prosecution, which was unavailable for comment.
HRW Spokeswoman Tamara Alrifai said: “It is good they have announced their whereabouts,” adding that it is now important to see if the detained men will receive “the two pre-requisites under international human rights standards; they should have legal assistance and be allowed contact with their families.” She pointed out that the men are “not easily accessible.”
Four of the nine men have had charges announced against them since they were detained on 3 July, according to HRW. Mohammad Rifaa Al-Tahtawy, former chief of staff and Assad El-Sheikha, former deputy chief of staff, had charges brought against them on 4 August. El-Sheikha was eventually transferred to Tora prison and Al-Tahtawy was transferred to Burg Al-Arab prison along with Morsi following the former president’s first public appearance at the first session of his trial on 4 November, said the rights group.
The five men named by HRW as being held without charge are Essam Al-Haddad, former foreign relations assistant, Ayman Ali, former expatriate affairs assistant, Abdelmeguid Al-Meshaly, former media adviser, Khaled al-Qazzaz, former foreign relations secretary, and Ayman Al-Serafy, former secretary to the office director. HRW said the family members are concerned about the health of Ali and Al-Haddad, “who they said have chronic health conditions that require regular access to medication and doctors.”
Sarah Leah Whitman, Middle East and North Africa Director for HRW said: “What kind of roadmap is this where a military-backed government can brazenly disappear former presidential aides for 150 days without any explanation?”
“Forcibly disappearing people for months on end doesn’t inspire confidence that this government intends to follow the rule of law,” she said, adding: “The prolonged enforced disappearance of anyone is a crime, pure and simple” and called for their release.
Additional reporting by Basil El-Dabh, AdelHalim H. AbdAllah and Mostafa Salem
