The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) discussed “top issues” in their monthly meeting, including their demand for the release of “not guilty” detained students and the implementation of judicial decisions in Sursu village cases, and formed a committee to study the Prisons Law.
In a statement, the NCHR said it “hopes” the necessary procedures to release detained students, who were found “not guilty” in court, are “quickly” implemented so they “can take their exams”.
Security forces have detained hundreds of students over the past year, often from within their campuses. Hundreds of students have also been expelled for taking part in “political activities” according to the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression.
In addition, the council members discussed “several observations pertaining to the [Prisons] Law”, and decided that they will form a joint- committee to “study the law”.
The statement said the committee will address the council’s “vision towards this law, ensuring the importance of the detainees’ rights and that their human dignity are not violated”.
In September, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) stated that the Ministry of Interior’s proposed amendments to the Prisons Law “are disappointing and far-off from meeting Egyptian constitutional guarantees and the UN minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners”.
EIPR said that “there is an urgent need to overhaul all existing laws, protocols and procedures governing the administration of prisons in Egypt”, adding that recent amendments are “more cosmetic than substantive amid a lack of transparency”.
The group added that they had sent an official letter to the NHCR requesting the publishing of proposed changes for “effective consultation”, but their call was not heeded.
Torture, overcrowding, and inhumane treatment are cited by local and international human rights organisations as everyday occurrences in Egyptian prisons.
On another note, the council presented a report on their field visit to the governorate of Port Said. It “emphasised the importance of allocating alternative housing for those whose homes are likely to fall”.
As land ownership disputes are on the increase in Sursu village in the Daqahleya governorate, the council demanded that judicial decisions on the court cases are implemented. The statement listed a number of villages in the Beheira and Daqahleya governorates that suffer from similar dilemmas.
