Egypt: Ongoing arbitrary detention of Mr. Ibrahim Ezz El-Din

New information:

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the ongoing arbitrary detention of Mr. Ibrahim Ezz El-Din, researcher on the right to housing at the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF), a human rights law firm based in Cairo operating in several governorates.

According to the information received, on March 15, 2020, a Cairo criminal court held at Tora’s sub-officers academy rejected the appeal lodged by Mr. Ibrahim Ezz El-Din against Supreme State Security Prosecution’s (SSSP) latest decision to extend his preventive detention by 15 days in Case 488 of 2019 State security prosecution, in the framework of which Mr. Ezz El-Din is being investigated on accusations of “contributing to the achievement of the objectives of a terrorist group” and “publication of false information undermining national security” [1].

The Observatory recalls that Mr. Ibrahim Ezz El-Din has been arbitrarily detained since November 26, 2019, after disappearing for more than 167 days (see background information).

The Observatory expresses its utmost concern over the ongoing arbitrary detention of Mr. Ibrahim Ezz El-Din, which seems to come as a result of his criticism of the policies of the government towards shanty urban areas and slums [2].

The Observatory calls on the Egyptian authorities to release Mr. Ibrahim Ezz El-Din immediately and unconditionally and to end all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against him and all the human rights defenders in Egypt.

Background information:

On June 11, 2019, Mr. Ibrahim Ezz El-Din was arrested on his way home from ECRF office in Cairo’s Mokattam area. However, despite requests from his mother and ECRF lawyers, the Mokattam police station consistently denied detaining him. Despite communications from Mr. Ibrahim Ezz El-Din’s mother and ECRF to the Attorney General, no information on the whereabouts of Mr. Ibrahim Ezz El-Din was available until he at last reappeared at State Security Prosecution on November 26, 2019.

Mr. Ibrahim Ezz El-Din, who appeared weak and having lost much weight, told the Prosecutor that he was tortured during his detention to extract information about his relationship to ECRF, and about ECRF’s work, as well as kept in inhumane and degrading conditions of detention, at several security agencies locations.

His detention has been repeatedly renewed by the Supreme Public Prosecution of Cairo since December 4, 2019. As the Public Prosecution can request a renewal every 15 days or 45 days, he could remain for up to two years under preventive detention.