3 policemen referred to trial over torture accusations

Amira El-Fekki
2 Min Read
An Egyptian policeman arrests a Muslim Brotherhood supporter (C) following a demonstration in the Nasr City district of Cairo, on January 25, 2014. Egyptian police fired tear gas at anti-government protesters in Cairo, as the country marked the anniversary of a 2011 uprising that overthrew veteran president Hosni Mubarak. (AFP PHOTO/MOHAMED EL-SHAHED)
An Egyptian policeman arrests a Muslim Brotherhood supporter (C) following a demonstration in the Nasr City district of Cairo, on January 25, 2014. Egyptian police fired tear gas at anti-government protesters in Cairo, as the country marked the anniversary of a 2011 uprising that overthrew veteran president Hosni Mubarak.  (AFP PHOTO/MOHAMED EL-SHAHED)
An Egyptian policeman arrests a Muslim Brotherhood supporter (C) following a demonstration in the Nasr City district of Cairo, on January 25, 2014. 
(AFP FILE PHOTO/MOHAMED EL-SHAHED)

Three detained policemen have been referred to criminal court over reports of the death of a detained citizen from torture, said NGO Al-Haqaneya Law Center Sunday.

The three suspects, a police officer and two conscripts from a police station in the governorate of Beheira, were held in custody since 8 May for questioning.

The case is marked by conflicting accounts from the Ministry of Interior and the victim’s family reports, as well as reports from human rights groups.

According to Nady Atef, director of the Justice and Human Rights Development Centre, a Minya-based NGO, the victim was taken from his workplace, a car agency, which security forces raided on 1 May.

The police claimed the suspect was arrested in a security chase and was resisting police forces.

The victim later died, allegedly inside the police station. The police’s claims published in newspapers suggested he was suffering from low blood pressure, and that they tried to provide him medical assistance.

Following his death, a dozen local residents had gathered in front of the police station, accusing the police of torturing him to death. They were dispersed by force, and there were at least eight injuries reported.

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Journalist in DNE's politics section, focusing on human rights, laws and legislations, press freedom, among other local political issues.