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

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the reappearance and 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 November 26, 2019, Mr. Ibrahim Ezz El-Din at last reappeared at State security prosecution after 167 days of enforced disappearance since his arrest at his home in Mokkatam, Cairo, on June 11, 2019 (see background information).

In the presence of Mr. Ezz El-Din’s lawyers, the Prosecutor investigated him on accusations of “contributing to the achievement of the objectives of a terrorist group” and “publication of false information undermining national security”, in Case 488 of 2019 State security prosecution [1].

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.

Awaiting a decision from the Prosecutor about his detention, it is expected he will be given 15 days pre-trial detention. The location of his future detention remained unknown at the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal.

The Observatory expresses its utmost concern over the enforced disappearance, acts of torture and arbitrary detention of Mr. Ibrahim Ezz El-Din, which seem to come as a result of his criticism of the policies of the government towards shanty urban areas and slums [2]. The Observatory also recalls that this is not the first time that ECRF and its members are subjected to harassment [3].

The Observatory calls on the Egyptian authorities to guarantee in all circumstances Mr. Ibrahim Ezz El-Din’s physical integrity and psychological well-being, to release him immediately and unconditionally and to immediately and unconditionally end any 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 reappeared at State security prosecution on November 26, 2019.