About Fayoum
Fayoum is an oasis in the western desert 90 km south west of Cairo. It is a northern governorate of Upper Egypt. Surrounded by sand from 3 sides except from the east where it is connected with Beni Soueif. Fayoum is 6068 sq.km. its population is 2,575,740 2007 census, distributed in 6 cities with 6 counties and 61 sub counties and 163 villages. The counties are Fayoum – Senorus – Ibshway – Atsa – Tamia –
Youssef Al Seddiq
About This Report
ANHRI and the Institute of freedom of thought and expression have started a while ago to monitor a number of violations against freedom of expression and whose victims vary between bloggers, reporters and students who were squashed between university guards and bullies in order to silence them about disclosing security domination and police practices in the university premises.
So, both institutes decided to issue this report to disclose those practices and the doers behind them.
Fayoum is suffering the iron grip of the security service, whose
officers are running wild violating all rights and laws are totally unleashed. Not being an attraction to the media in addition to the barriers of fear in people’s hearts, Fayoum has become a typical city of silence.
Questioning Students And Suspending Them For Involvement In A “Victory For Gaza” Festival.
On 24\3\2009, Arabic Studies college has prosecuted 6 students accused of contributing to a festival at the university to celebrate what is called “Gaza Victory”. Social Studies College did the same with 7 students.
The dean of agriculture college, Samir Ahmed Saif” expelled 9 students for a whole week after being questioned 19 times accused of: organizing the festival, distributing a flyer entitled “let’s reconstruct Gaza” and introducing festival decoration and sound gear into the university premises without permission.
All prosecuted students were expelled for a week. Israa, a student in Sciences College was expelled for 2 days accused of the same charges.
Earlier at the beginning of the academic year, the dean expelled 6 students for a whole month. The court annulled the decision and the students were back to college.
University Guards And Bullies Assault Students Brutally
On 8\4\2009, some students of Education College were preparing for the graduation party, an annual norm, and while the students were passing by Engineering college carrying party decorations, they were attacked by 200 bullies along with university guards. The students were beaten up with clubs and iron chains. The beating was all along the way from Engineering College to Sciences College, where the bullies used also tree branches, metal objects and lumber used for construction purposes.
The attack is on the links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kofwO2eDRqw
http://www.talaba4fayoum.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2138
The bullies hit Ali Abdul Hassib, Education College, on his head; he was unconscious, and so they dragged him from his feet and shoved in a police truck. Ali Khaled Ahmed, same college, was arrested with severe face injuries. Amr Ibrahim, an Engineering undergraduate, was beaten and arrested as he was filming the attack with his cell phone.
Paramedics showed up after one whole hour of the attack, the university administration let them in after lengthy talks.
Injury Log:
Arabic Studies College:
- Mohamed Ahmed Saad: lower jaw broken.
- Ahmed Mohamed Sufi: suspected concussion.
- Mahmoud Haroun Shahat: right leg broken
- Mohamed Ibrahim Ali Hegazi : right leg broken
- Ibrahim Mohamed Ali: head injury
Education College:
- Ahmed Ramadan Owais: face and arm injuries
- Mohamed Abd Al Azim Ashour: spinal cord bruised.
Female students fainted of the cruelty of the scene. Fayoum prosecution arrested injured students, investigated them till 4 am. In the investigation report #4208/ 2009, the two officers Mostafa Al Masry and Ahmed Mohamed Khalaf accused the following students of beating up the two officers:
- Mohamed Ahmed Saad
- Ahmed Mohamed Sufi
- Mahmoud Haroun Shahat
- Amr IBrahim Mohamed
- Ali Mohamed Ali
- Khaled Mohamed
The prosecuted students’ injuries varied from broken legs, head injuries, back injuries and broken jaws.
Security service kidnapped 4 students
- Mohamed Abd Al Azim Ashour
- Ahmed Ramadan Owais
- Mohamed Ibrahim
- Ibrahim Mohamed Ali
Because they reported to Ahmed Koraish prosecution officer in
Fayoum being assaulted by 8 police officers
- Marawan Mazen security service officer
- Sameh Fahmy, Head of university guard force
- Mostafa Al Masry, Head of guard force at Social studies college
- Mohamed Ahmed Khalaf, police officer.
And 4 Privates:
- Ahmed Jaber Ahmed
- Ramadan Ahmed Meibed
- Ahmed Ali Al Rubi
- Hamada Saad
The students reported that they were beaten by clubs and metal chains by those policemen in front of their colleagues. The students requested protection of the prosecution from the security service forces. After the students have reported the incident, they were kidnapped and their lawyer, Mostafa Mahmoud, was harassed by security.
Two officers, Hani Tei’ailab and Marawan Mazen attempted to attack other lawyers at Fayoum prosecution premises.
The university was surrounded by intense guards, 4 students were arrested accused of assaulting officers. The arrested students are;
- Mohamed Mustafa Abd Al Azim
- Ahmed Abd Al Tawab Ramadan
- Mohamed Mahrus Ragab
- Salah Sha’ban Ahmed
Mohamed Abd Al Fatah, the students’ attorney filed a complaint to the general attorney in Fayoum against the chief officer of Fayoum police station, as he refused to transfer the students to hospital according to prosecution orders. He also would not allow lawyers, food, medical care and blankets to the detained students.
Azzam Abu Taleb, state security officer visited the hospital manager and asked him not to issue any injury reports that can be used against the state security.
The following day, 9\4\2009, the students were questioned once more by the prosecution which ordered 15 days detention for investigation for;
- Mohamed Ahmed Saad.
- Ahmed Mohamed Sufi.
- Mahmoud Haroun Shahat.
- Mohamed Ibrahim Ali Hegazi.
- Ibrahim Mohamed Ali.
- Ahmed Ramadan Owais.
- Mohamed Abd AL Azim Ashour
- Amr ibrahim Ali
- Khaled Ahmed
- Ali Abd Al Hassib.
On 9\4\2009, two MPs, Kamal Nour El Din and Mustafa Awad Allah issued an urgent inquiry to the prime minister and the minister of education about assaults against students at Fayoum University.
On 15\4\2009, the administration of “Demu” prison stopped the lawyers from seeing the detained students, though the lawyers have got valid visit permits and all other necessary documents.
The lawyers said that the students are suffering such cruel conditions in prison; they are not allowed to exercise, restroom is once a day, they are offered one meal only and they were not allowed to have their books to study for the final exams.
On 20\4\2009, security grabbed 4 students from their homes to be prosecuted at Bandar Al Fayoum
- Mohamed Mahrus
- Ahmed Abd Al Tawab
- Salah Shaaban
- Mohamed Mustafa
Mahrus and Shaaban were released whereas Mustafa and Abd Al Tawab were detained for 15 days to be questioned by the prosecution.
On 5\5\2009, the students were presented to the Fayoum prosecution, which ordered the release of 4 students
- Ahmed Mohamed Sufi.
- Ahmed Ramadan Owais
- Khaled Ahmed Mohamed.
- Ibrahim Mohamed Ali.
Yet, they were not set free as an arrest order was issued immediately by state security. On the other hand, the prosecution ordered the two students
- Mahmoud Haroun Shahat.
- Mohamed Ibrahim Ali Hegazi
To be hospitalized and ordered a detailed medical report on their injuries, but the state security would not allow that.
Eight students received a 15 day continued detention
- Mohamed Ahmed Saad.
- Ahmed Abd Al Tawab Ramadan.
- Mohamed Abd AL Azim Ashour
- Amr ibrahim Ali
- Mohamed Mustafa Abd Al Azim
- Ali Abd Al Hassib.
- Mahmoud Haroun Shahat.
- Mohamed Ibrahim Ali Hegazi
The detained students filed the cases # 4666, 4667, 4670, and 4675 for judiciary year 9 at the administrative court in the state council in Fayoum to be able to sit for the final exams. A court order on 12\5\2009 was issued in favor of the students detained in Demu, Wadi Al Natrune and Al Marg prisons to take the finals.
Deans of faculties of Education, Agriculture, Arabic Studies and Engineering ordered the students;
- Mohamed Abd Al Azim Ashour
- Ali Abd Al Hassib.
- Ahmed Ramadan Owais
- Khaled Ahmed Mohamed.
- Mohamed Mustafa Abd Al Azim
To a disciplinary board that decided not to allow them to take the final exams in 2 courses of the second semester.
In the faculty of agriculture, an investigation was held for Ahmed Abd Al Tawab and he was presented in absentia to a disciplinary board that decided not to allow him to take the final exams in 2 courses of the second semester.
In the Arabic studies college the students
- Mohamed Ahmed Saad.
- Mahmoud Haroun Shahat
- Ibrahim Mohamed Ali
- Mohamed Ibrahim Ali.
Were questioned and presented to a disciplinary board that decided not to allow them to take the final exams in 2 courses of the second semester.
In the faculty of agriculture, an investigation was held for Amr Ibrahim Sayed Iraqi and he was presented to a disciplinary board that decided not to allow him to take the final exams in 2 courses of the second semester.
On 30\5\2009, the state security supreme prosecution issued a release order for the students
- Mohamed Ahmed Saad.
- Ahmed Abd Al Tawab Ramadan.
- Mohamed Abd AL Azim Ashour
- Amr ibrahim Ali
- Mohamed Mustafa Abd Al Azim
- Ali Abd Al Hassib.
State security investigation refused to release them and issued an arrest order for them. They were held at Demu prison in Fayoum and on 20\6\2009, they were transferred to Wadi Al Natrune prison deprived of their freedom which is ruining their plans of the future.
Disclosing Has A Price – Persecuting Reporters
Ahmed Saif Al Nasr- Al dostor correspondentOn 10\4\2009, at 3am, state security investigation forces broke into Ahmed Saif Al Nasr, Al dostor correspondent, house and the editor at Al Fayoum window web site. They arrested him for covering the events of Fayoum University. 50 security elements came to get him led by lieutenant colonel Osama Gomaa Fayoum investigation chief and his two assistants Mustafa Hassan and Mohamed Abd al Ghaffar.
He was arrested upon a report from a woman accusing him of insulting her while he was covering the strike of the employees in the education administration of East of Fayoum. He was also charged of working as an editor for a website while being a public school teacher of Arabic. She charged him of criticizing the governor of Fayoum and the education administration despite being a public employee.
Saif Al Nasr was detained at Bandar Al Fayoum police station with more than 30 dangerous criminals provided no food or blanket. Lawyers were not allowed to see him. Saif Al Nasr said that one of the officers told him he was “disciplined because of his writings about police assaults against students” by throwing him in a horrible detention place incommunicado.
At midnight, Saif Al Nasr was presented to Osama Rabie, prosecutor of Fayoum, who accused him of the previously mentioned charges. Saif Al Nasr insisted that those were malicious complaints, assuring that his work at the website does not contradict with his profession as a teacher of Arabic language at a public school. He said that he was using his constitutional right to express. The prosecutor issued a release order for Saif Al Nasr, but he had to wait for 2 hours for a permit after being detained for one day.
Persecuting Saif Al Nasr continued after his release, he was questioned in an official investigation 3 times accused of publishing irritating news of the education administration. Also his wife, a teacher as well, was persecuted.
On 14\7\2009, the state security prosecution questioned him upon a misdemeanor complaint #10989 submitted from the technical girls school director in Senoras accusing Saif aL Nasr of insulting him and threatening him of disclosing him in Al Dostor newspaper.
After investigation, and due to lack of evidence, the prosecution issued a release order for Saif Al Nasr. It was complaint incited by security agents.
Harassing Bloggers
Blogger: Mustafa Mahmoud
Blog: Maalem Ala Al Tariq
In October 2008, Amr Al Hmaily, state security officer, summoned Mustafa Mahmoud to state security in Fayoum. There he met Abd Al Latif Al Hady Badran, state security inspector, who yelled at him and threatened to throw him in jail along with his family, because of his writings on his blog. Badran told him about a lawyer who was imprisoned for 12 years convicted of being a member of an Isamist group, a fake accusation Badran fabricated. When Mustafa refused to yield in, Badran swore at him and warned that he will be under close surveillance.
Blogger: Abd Al Rahman Fares
Blog: Lissani hoa Al Qalam Amr Al Hmaily kidnapped Abd Al Rahman Fares on 4\4\2009, in front of Fayoum cultural palace in a van, prior to 6\4\2009 strike. Fares was presented to the prosecution on 5\4\2009, where he was charged of inciting to strike, using the prevailing democratic atmosphere to overthrow the regime, distributing flyers and other publications for 6th April and Kefaya movements
Fares was ill treated by Tamer Adel, state security officer, who threatened him to be detained for long. Badran, the state security inspector threatened him that his arrest order is ready and that he is lucky that the 6th April failed. Fares was released from state security on 7th April, 2009.
Blogger: Mohamed Khairy, blog: Garr Shakal
Blogger: Khalifa Ebeid, blog: Ana Mat’hounBoth bloggers were arrested on 22\10\2008 because they were in the Caravan “break the siege of Gaza” which was aborted on 6\10\2008 and also because of their critical writings on their blogs. They were presented to the prosecution and received a 15 day detention order in Fayoum prison. They were put in “straightening” cells, served one meal per day with no visits and no exercise. They were released after 15 days.
Amr Al Hmaily re-arrested Khairy after 10 days of his release and confiscated his laptop and would not register it in the confiscated items list. Khairy was presented to the prosecution and received a release order for lack of evidence, yet the state security investigations would not release him and issued another arrest order by which he was detained for 70 days in Wadi Al Natrun prison.
Blogger: Ahmed Mohsen
BLog: Fatah Eineik
On 23\4\2009, Marawan Mazen, state security inspector broke into Mohsen’s house. The inspector scrutinized the house in an uncivilized way, turned every thing up side down. He even inspected the bathrooms. Ahmed was not at home then, he was in Menya where he is a radiologist in Menya university hospital. State security inspector Badran called Mohsen, and threatened to arrest him at work, to make him turn himself in which he did. He was presented to prosecution of Snorus where he was accused of using the prevailing democratic atmosphere to overthrow the regime and hindering the law and constitution. Mohsen who was released recently suffered many violations:
- He was put in straightening cells; seclusion.
- One meal served per day.
- Timed usage of restroom.
- No visits allowed.
Mohsen started a hunger strike protesting this treatment. He was detained in Fayoum prison for 15 days, and then transferred to Al Marg prison so that he would end his strike. On 26\5\2009, State security issued a detention extension for 15 more days. He was detained for another 15 days by a new order on 9\6\2009. Mohsen was tried on 23\6\2009 for detention renewal to which he appealed. Supreme appeal court of Beni soueif accepted the appeal in form and subject and issued a release order for Mohsen.
Mohsen has an unpleasant history with state security; on 27\11\2007, he was kidnapped by SSI on his way back form work because of his writings on his blog “Fatah Eineik”. He has a positive role in disclosing the torture crime, where Mohamed Gomaa Al Dahshoury was tortured in Fayoum police station by the officer, Motaz Al Louag. The victim was detained for 2 months in Mazraet Torrah prison after being prosecuted by state security in Tagamoa Al Khames.
Random Arresting Of Students And Citizens
It seems the SSI had not had enough assaulting student and bloggers and fabricating accusations for them. They started an arbitrary arrest raid on 16\4\2009. 20 citizens were arrested, all accused of the “regular”: using the prevailing democratic atmosphere to overthrow the regime and hindering the law and constitution.
Detainees list:
- Mohamed Ahmed AL sayed Badr, veterinarian
- Hanafi Mahmud Mohamed Sayed, teacher, Ibshway education administration
- Ahmed Al sayed Ali Shahat, teacher
On 16\4\2009 morning, SSI force led by the officer Hisham Fahim broke into their houses, inspected them in an uncivilized manner causing panic in the neighborhoods. They confiscated computers, books, research work of the veterinarian. The three were presented to ibshway prosecution office on the same morning. They received 15 days detention order on the cases 370, 372 and 371 /2009/SSS (supreme state security). They were detained in Demu prison and released on 23\6\2009.
4- Anwar Shaaban Morsi Ali, teacher at Azhar institute.
On 16\4\2009 morning, SSI force led by the officer Mohamed Abd AL Tawab, state security inspector of Atsa, broke into his house and arrested him. He was presented to Atsa prosecution office on the same morning accused of the same charge. He received 15 days detention order on the case 419 /2009 SSS. He was detained in Demu prison and then transferred to Marg then to Wadi Al Natrun prisons where he was detained till present.
5- Taha Taha Tawfik Mohamed, teacher, Tamia education administration
6- Sayed Omran Mohamed Omran, teacher
On 16\4\2009 morning, SSI force led by the officer Amr Al Hmaily, state security inspector of Tamia, broke into their houses, took the computer and some books belonging to Taha. Both were arrested and presented to Tamia prosecution office on the same morning accused of the same charge. They received 15 days detention order on the case 408, 409 /2009 SSS. They were detained in Demu prison and then transferred to Marg then to Wadi Al Natrun prisons where they were detained till present.
7- Mohamed Ali Ismail Ali, teacher at Azhar institute
On 16\4\2009 morning, SSI force led by the officer Tamer Adel, state security inspector of Fayoum broke into his house and arrested him. He was presented to Fayoum prosecution office on the same morning accused of the same charge. He received 15 days detention order on the case 410 /2009 SSS. He was detained in Demu prison and then transferred to Marg then to Wadi Al Natrun prisons where he was detained till present.
8- Rabbie Samir Mohamed Alsayed, teacher
On 16\4\2009 morning, SSI force led by the officer Tamer Adel, state security inspector of Fayoum broke into his house and arrested him. He was presented to Fayoum prosecution office on the same morning accused of the same charge. He received 15 days detention order on the case 412 /2009 SSS despite his health condition, being asthmatic and despite the medical reporters presented by his lawyers. He was detained in Demu prison and then transferred to Marg then to Wadi Al Natrun prisons where he was released on 23\6\2009.
9- Omar Youssef Hamed, administrative excutive at Fayoum Doctors union.
On 16\4\2009 morning, SSI force led by the officer Mohamed Abd Al Tawab, state security inspector of Atsa broke into his house, took his computer, some research work papers and some books and arrested him. He was presented to Atsa prosecution office on the same morning accused of the same charge. He received 15 days detention order on the case 420 /2009 SSS. He was detained in Demu prison and then transferred to Marg then to Wadi Al Natrun prisons where he was released on 2\7\\2009. An arrest order was issued on the same day; he was transferred back to Wadi Al Natrun prison.
10 – Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Tolba, teacher, Snorus adiminstration.
On 16\4\2009 morning, SSI force led by the officer Tamer Adel, state security inspector of Fayoum broke into his house and arrested him. He was presented to Fayoum prosecution office on the same morning accused of the same charge. He received 15 days detention order on the case 423 /2009 SSS despite his serious health condition, having hepatitis C, Mediterranean fever and a slipped disc. He was detained in Demu prison and then transferred to Marg then to Wadi Al Natrun prisons where he was released on 9\6\2009.
1- Ahmed Ibrahim Byomi, accountant at the Salinas Co.
On 16\4\2009 morning, SSI force led by the officer, Mohamed Ramadan, state security inspector of Fayoum broke into his house. The force broke the doors of the house, jumped from roof to roof, yet they did not find him. They threatened his wife and daughter of arrest if Byomi did not turn himself in. The house was surrounded till he turned himself in. He was presented to Fayoum prosecution office accused of the same charges. He received 15 days detention order on the case 417 /2009 SSS. He was detained in Demu prison and then transferred to Marg then to Wadi Al Natrun prisons where he was detained till present.
2- Shaaban Owais Shaaban, Faruk School director
On 16\4\2009 morning, SSI force led by the officer Tamer Adel, state security inspector of Fayoum broke into his house, took his computer, some research work papers and some books and arrested him. He was presented to Snorus prosecution office on the same morning accused of the same charges. He received 15 days detention order on the case 411 /2009 SSS. He was detained in Demu prison and then transferred to Marg then to Wadi Al Natrun prisons where he was released on 2\7\\2009. An arrest order was issued on the same day; then he was transferred back to Wadi Al Natrun prison.
3- Atef Ghoryani Rahim, teacher
On 16\4\2009 morning, SSI force led by the officer Tamer Adel, state security inspector of Fayoum broke into his house, took his computer, some research work and some books and arrested him. He was presented to Snorus prosecution office on the same morning accused of the same charges. He received 15 days detention order on the case 411 /2009 SSS. He was detained in Demu prison and then transferred to Marg then to Wadi Al Natrun prisons where he was released on 2\7\2009. An arrest order was issued on the same day; then he was transferred back to Wadi Al Natrun prison.
4- Osama Saleh Abd Al Fadeel, engineering student.
On 16\4\2009 morning, SSI force led by the officer Mohamed Abd Al Tawab, state security inspector of Atsa broke into his house and arrested him. He was presented to Atsa prosecution office accused of the same charge. He received 15 days detention order on the case 417 /2009 SSS. He was detained in Demu prison and then transferred to Marg then to Wadi Al Natrun prisons where he was released on 2\7\2009.
5- Mohamed Mohamed Al Mekkawy, doctor.
On 16\4\2009 morning , SSI force led by the officer Azzam Abu Taleb , state security inspector of Fayoum broke into his house, took his computer, some books and the copies of his master’s thesis ready to be discussed was not for him being arrested. He was presented to the prosecution office accused of the same charge. He received 15 days detention order on the case 416 /2009 SSS. He was detained in Demu prison and then transferred to Marg prison where he was released on 23\6\2009.
6- Mohamed Fathy Abd Al Hameed, pharmacisit.
On 16\4\2009 morning, SSI force led by the officer Azzam Abu Taleb, state security inspector of Fayoum broke into his house and arrested him. He was presented to Fayoum prosecution office accused of the same charges. He received 15 days detention order on the case 415 /2009 SSS. He was detained in Demu prison and then transferred to Marg prison where he was released on 23\6\2009.
7- Mohamed Sayed Abd AL Rahim, clerk at Mecca Hospital
On 16\4\2009 morning, SSI force led by the officer Azzam Abu Taleb, state security inspector of Fayoum broke into his house and arrested him. He was presented to Fayoum prosecution office accused of the same charges. He received 15 days detention order on the case 414 /2009 SSS. He was detained in Demu prison and then transferred to Marg prison where he was released on 2\7\2009.
18 – Abd Al Rahman Kolayb, teacher
On 16\4\2009 morning, SSI force led by the officer Hisham Fahim, state security inspector of Ibshway broke into his house and arrested him. He was presented to Ibshway prosecution office accused of the same charges. He received 15 days detention order on the case 369 /2009 SSS. He was detained in Demu prison where he was released on 13\5\2009.
19- Sayed Zaki, teacher
On 16\4\2009 morning, SSI force led by the officer Tamer Adel, state security inspector of Fayoum broke into his house and arrested him. He was presented to Fayoum prosecution office accused of the same charges. He received 15 days detention order on the case 369 /2009 SSS. He was detained in Demu prison then moved to Al Marg prison where he was released on 27\5\2009.
Banning A Seminar For Al Ghad Party
On 11\7\2009, state security investigations canceled a seminar for Ayman Nour
in Fayoum for no reason.
Al Ghad party committee in Fayoum has announced a “hand in hand we walk along” public conference with Ayman Nour on 9\7\2009. The committee invited MPs Mostafa Awadalla, Saber Atta, political activists and citizens. The conference was to be held at the teachers’ club. However, Hamdy Al-Shimi, state security officer in Fayoum, forced closing down of the meeting hall 4 hours prior to start though it was booked and paid for four days before.
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Hisham Fahim: Who Will Stop This Man?
The main duty of a state security officer is to maintain state security and citizens’ safety; this is appreciated by all people. But it is totally unaccepted and illegal that this officer uses his position a, power and authorities for his personal interests and to persecute citizens. Since Hisham was assigned to Fayoum state security in mid nineties, he went far beyond lines and misused his authorities, backed by his father, an MP of Beni Soueif.
Below listed are some of Hisham’s illegal practices.
First: Misusing power and authorities
1- The car Hisham drives with plate # 450 Fayoum pertains to the local administrative unit of “Southern Senru” village, where Hisham sent one of the non commissioned officers, Ahmed Attia, in state security to the head of the local administrative unit to inform him that Hisham needs this very car for himself. The head of the local adimistrative unit refused to cooperate at first yet he gave in when the head of city council gave him a pressure call to hand the car over to Hisham.
2- Hisham called CEO of Ibshway club “Mohamed AL Kammash” to hand in the ping pong table so that Hisham’s son would play ping pong in the state security premises. Kammash told him, ” it is an asset Sir, I could not dispose if it”. Yet whenever you son wishes to play ping pong, he can come over to the club and I will give him all the time he needs”. Hisham was so angry; he yelled at Kammash, “I’ll show you how to give me the table”. Eventually, Kammash, under pressure, handed in the ping pong table to state security.
Second: Citizens Complaints of torture
1- Mamoud Shaaban, religious advisor
Shaaban says, “In October 2007, Hisham Fahim called me to his office as I was nominated for the Azhar union committee. It was noon and I was fasting, he let me go and come back in the evening. Then, he insulted and humiliated me. He closed the window, disconnected the phone and beat me up so hard with his hand and feet till I fell down unconscious. His assistant, Ashraf was his name, took me to wash up and wake up and dragged me back to Hisham’s office who went on insulting my family and me for two hours. I have serious face and back injuries and I am so emotionally traumatized”.
2- Mahmoud Ahmed Ali Garhy –clerk at the Agameiin local administrative unit.
Garhy says,” Hisham called me to his office more than once in 11/2006 and 12/2006. The last time on of his men kidnapped me on the street and I was taken to state security in Ibshway. Blindfolded I was presented to Hisham, he beat me up and I fell unconscious more than once. This was one afternoon when he dismissed me and called me to his office once more in the evening. I went to the police station to report him and the prosecution referred me to the hospital for a medical report of all my injuries.
I learnt that Hisham threatened the doctor not to issue any reports. The police report holds #4792/2006/ administrative Ibshway. Hisham called me in once more, this time he apologized asking me to give up on the police report. I refused to give up on my right; my superiors at work pressured me and transferred me from Agameiin to Ibshway though it is an illegal measure for someone in my position, a Head of technicians which is equivalent general manger. This transfer makes me walk 7 km daily to reach work or spend a fortune on transportation which I can’t afford as I have got a big family, 8 children. Hisham would not stop at that, he sent his men after me to watch me and escort me everywhere.
Third: Kidnapping
1- Mohamed Shaaban Ali, owner of a poultry farm.
Shaaban says: in 12\2006, some state security element kidnapped me on a motorbike to state security office in Ibhsway. After two hours of waiting, I was presented to Hisham Fahim, blindfolded. He threatened to put my head in water basin and electrify me and he swore and insulted me. He threatened to expel me form the international seminar of the Moslem Youth and would not let me register my name in election lists
2- Mahmoud Abd Al Monem Galal – Shoe shop owner
He was kidnapped in May 2009 in a police car to the state security in Ibshway. After waiting for a
long time, I was presented to Hisham Fahim who asked my about some friends and warned me of knowing them, namely Mohamed Al Hassawy my brother in law and his brother Mustafa Al Hassawy.
Fourth: Meddling in Lawyers Union Elections.
Belal Omar El Sayed, a lawyer, says; “before the elections re-run, on 29\5\2009, Hisham Fahim called in my uncles after the Friday prayer, and pressured them and threatened one of my uncles he will be fired from his work so that they would stop me from attending the election. Hisham said,” this trivial nephew of yours must be stopped otherwise I will straighten you all up. Be good guys and show some respect to my orders. I know you have no control over your nephew, he will be at the election, anyways I warned you and the choice is yours”.
In the evening of the same day, he called my eldest uncle to touch base of the latest. My uncle told him Belal is not showing up at the elections. Then Hisham called us both to his office.
My uncle called me to go with him to Hisham, to which I refused. Bshway court where the election committee is to find a massive security mix; state security led by Hisham Fahim, general security led by El Sayed Hatem and investigation service inspectors of Ibshway and Youssef Al Seddiq. Also there were leaders of the National Democratic Party, namely Hussein Nasr inspector at ministry of education, Rabii Abu Ltaya agricultural engineer, Shoueib Masry and Nadia Al Raey, women’s secretary at the national party in Fayoum. It was a worrying scene, intimidating to the lawyers. They felt they will be pressured to vote for the NDP nominee. Once he spotted me, Hisham told me, “have your kin told you something?” I said,”Something like what?”
He said,” Something likes not to show up today”.
I said, “Sir, will vote for the best man “.
He shook his head and said, “Ok Belal, we will see”.
On 31/5/2009, my brother woke me up at 3 pm and gave me the phone. It was Hisham inquiring about my addresses in Fayoum and Cairo and what days of the week I spend in Cairo and in Fayoum and ended up by a threatening tone, “You will see Belal”.
State Security Meddles In Fayoum University Staff Union Elections
A correspondence form the solidarity administration in Fayoum came in addressing CEO of the Fayoum University Staff Union notifying him of eliminating 8 professors from the union’s elections nominees list.
According to a written request form state security, the correspondence reads as follows, “We are pleased to inform you that we received the security letter # 1875/ 2008 on 10/11/2008 in response to our letter #2702 /2008 on 2/11/2008 seeking opinion about the nominees to elections of the board. Your letter requested approval of the attached list containing 36 nominees first is Abd Al Hameed Abd Al Tawab Sabri Abd AL Hameed and last is Mustafa Ibrahim Abd Al Rahman Mohamed al Eshairy.
We approve of all nominees except the below listed;
- Sayed Abd AL Hameed Sayed Ahmed Keshk
- Hashem Marei Hashem Ali
- Ayman Abd AL Fattah Abd AL Fattah Al Maghraby
- Mohamed Owais Abd Al Fattah Allam
- Mohamed Atteyia Mahmoud Mohamed
- Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed Murad
- Abd Al Bary Mohamed Al Taher Al Sharkawy
- Ibrahim Hamdy Abd AL Maqsud
The above listed have no chance of being nominated. Please take all necessary actions on this issue Undersecretary, Solidarity ministry Mahmoud Ibrahim Al Shazley.
Assaulting Lawyers in Fayoum
On 14/6/2009, more than 300 lawyers started a sit- in the lawyers union in Ibshway after two officers of Ibshway police station assaulted a lawyer, hit him in the face and detained him for 5 hours at the police station.
The lawyers union, located at Ibshway court house witnessed a state of rage, where more than 300 lawyers went for a sit- in threatening to take escalated legal measures against the two police officers in Ibshway who hit the lawyer Mohamed Hamdi Ibrahim, known as Hamdy AL Hushi in the face using chairs together with non commissioned officers who hit him at the police station where he was detained illegally for 5 hours.
The lawyers’ union undersecretary, Siam Galal Al Din, in the evening of the same day, was coincidentally at the police station and learnt of what happened to Hamdy. The chief officer and Siam interfered to release Hamdy and a reconciliation report was issued but Hamdy would not sign it.
The next morning, other lawyers knew of the incident and they started the sit –in where the union head, Mahmoud Al Hawary, the union board and former union leaders joined in.
Conclusion
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information and the institute for freedom of thought and expression have deep worries about the academic life in Egypt being a hostile environment for human rights. Those in charge are working for more oppression and restricting of freedoms and have absolutely no tolerance for practicing the right to express politically and intellectually.
University officials readily waste citizenship rights instead of cherishing them and making the university a breeder and sponsor of politically aware young people who have critical minds able to cope with life. Learning politics at the university is step forward in restoring the national students’ move that was besieged and inhibited for years.
While the university student have a constitutional and legal right to nominate themselves and elect legislative representatives and the president as well, they are not allowed to discuss politics. While the human rights organizations are calling for liberating universities from police guards, a request which the administrative court upheld with a recent decision to expel the police forces from all universities. However, the ministry of interior would not pull its forces out. Moreover, the police guards of Fayoum university use bullies to assault peaceful students and the university administration did not open any investigations regarding those assaults and no officer or bully was prosecuted for their assaults. Besides the students victims are the ones who are detained and prosecuted accused of assaulting the officers who defensively filed communiqués against the students.
Those violators of human rights share a common wish to enforce silence to conceal their crimes and encroachments and a common will to intimidate anyone who is attempting to disclose the facts in a peaceful and legal way.
The victims; bloggers, reporters and students rely on their natural right to express as stated by the Egyptian constitution and the international accords signed by Egypt. Security authorities in Egypt and through extended granted authorities, the most prominent of which is they know well how to cover their tracks, have become indifferent to the law. They commit their crimes in cold blood but worry so much about the disclosure of their shameful violations of human rights.
Both institutes as they state that the removal of the police from university campuses, is the most important step on the way to universities independence and liberating the students and professors from the domination of security, request the Fayoum university president to open an investigation in the assault events against the students, take all measures to prosecute the bullies and the university guards involved in the assault and release all detained students.
Both institutes express extreme worry of the continued Fayoum security policy of ambushing and harassing bloggers and reporters and using the emergency law against some of them. They also request the minister of interior to question the officers and the security elements listed in this report in the events in which they were involved, to give strict orders to state security in Fayoum to stop violating human rights and to release detained bloggers.
THE END
PPENDICES
Appendix I
Students Arrested And Detained In Fayoum
| Student Name | College | Release Order | Re-Arrest Date |
| Amr Ibrahim Ali | Engineering | 30/5/2009 | 31/5/2009 |
| Ali Abd Al Hassib | Education | ||
|
Mohamed Abd Al Azim Ashour |
Education | ||
| Mhamed Mustafa abd Al Azim |
Education |
||
| Ahmed Abd Al Tawab Ramadan | Agriculture | ||
|
Mahmoud Mohamed Haroun Shahat |
Arabic Studies |
16/5/2009 |
17/5/2009 |
| Mohamed Ibrahim Ali Hegazy | Arabic Studies | ||
| Mohamed Ahmed Saad | Arabic Studies | 30/5/2009 | 31/5/2009 |
| Ahmed Mohamed Sufi | Arabic Studies |
5/5/2009 |
6/5/2009 |
| Ibrahim Mohamed Ali | Arabic Studies | ||
| Ahmed Ramadan Owais | Education | ||
| Khaled Ahmed Mohamed | Education |
Appendix II
Reporters and Bloggers pursued by Fayoum Security
| Paper/ Blog | Reporter/ Blogger |
| Al Dostor paper/ Fayoum Window website | 1.Ahmed Saif Al Nasr |
| Blog : Maalem Ala Al Tariq | 2.Mustafa Mahmoud |
| Blog : Fatah Eineik | 3.Ahmed Mohsen |
| Blog : Garr Shakal | 4.Mohamed Khairy |
| Blog : Ana Mathoun | 5.Khalifa Ebeid |
| Blog : Lissani Hoa Al Qalem | 6.Abd Al Rahman Fares |
Appendix III: Detainees Names and Case Numbers
| Name | Case # | Remarks | Release Date |
| Mohamed Ahmed Al Sayed Badr | 370/2009/ SSS |
Released |
23/6/2009 |
| Hanafy Mahmoud Mohamed Sayed | 372/2009/ SSS | ||
| Ahmed Al Sayed Ali Shahat | 371/2009/ SSS | ||
| Anwar Shaaban Morsi Ali | 419/2009/ SSS |
Detained |
|
| Taha Taha Tawfik Mohamed | 408/2009/ SSS | ||
| Sayed Omran Mohamed Omran | 409/2009/ SSS | ||
| Mohamed Ali Ismail Ali | 410/2009/ SSS | ||
| Rabei Samir Mohamed Al Sayed | 412/2009/SSS | Releasd | 23/6/2009 |
| Ahmed Mohsen Mohamed Abd Al Rahman | 421/2009/SSS | 2/7/2009 | |
| Omar Youssef Hamed | 420/2009/SSS | Released on 2/7/2009 and re-arrested | |
| Ohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Tolba | 423/2009/SSS | Released | 9/6/2009 |
| Ahmed Ibrahim Byoumi | 417/2009/SSS | Detained | |
| Shaaban Owais Shaaban | 411/2009/SSS | Released on 2/7/2009 and re-arrested | |
| Atef Ghoriani Rahim | 422/2009/SSS | ||
| Osama Saleh Abd Al Fadeel | 418/2009/SSS |
Released |
2/7/2009 |
| Mohamed Mohamed Al Makkawy | 416/2009/SSS | 23/6/2006 | |
| Mohamed Fathy Abd Al Hamid | 415/2009/SSS | ||
| Mohamed Sayed Abd al Rahim | 414/2009/SSS | 2/7/2009 | |
| Abd AlRahman Kolaib | 369/2009/SSS | 13/5/2009 | |
| Sayed Zaki | 413/2009/SSS | 27/5/2009 | |
Appendix IV
Officers and Security Elements Dominating Fayoum
| Rank / Assignment | Name |
| SS inspector |
|
| SS officer |
|
| SS officer |
|
| SS officer |
|
| SS officer |
|
| SS officer |
|
| SS officer |
|
| Social Studies college Chief Gurad |
|
| Hostel Chief Guard |
|
|
University Chief Guard |
|
| Chief Inspector – Fayoum court |
|
| Fayoum Chief Inspector |
|
|
Private |
|
|
Private |
|
|
Private |
|
| Private |
|
