EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: MDE 12/04/92

Distr: UA/SC

UA 197/92Fear of Torture12 June 1992

EGYPT:More than 200 people arrested

Amnesty International has received reports of mass arrests during a police crackdown on members and sympathizers of banned Islamic militant groups after the killing on 8 June 1992 of the writer Farag Foda, allegedly by two members of the Gihad, an illegal Islamic militant group. On 9 June 1992, hundreds of people demonstrated in two Cairo suburbs, 'Ain Shams and al-Zawiya al-Hamra, apparently in protest against these arrests. At least 13 people are reported to have been arrested during these demonstrations, eight in al-Zawiya al-Hamra and five in 'Ain Shams, and anti-government banners were reportedly confiscated by the police.

Amnesty International condemns both extrajudicial executions by government forces and the deliberate and arbitrary killings by armed opposition groups. The organization fears that those arrested since the killing of Farag Foda are at risk of torture and ill-treatment.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Farag Foda, a 49-year old writer, was shot dead on Tuesday 8 June by two masked men while getting into his car outside his office in Cairo. His 15-year-old son and a companion were wounded. The Interior Ministry is reported to have said that one of the attackers was captured and that he was a member of Gihad. Farag Foda, a professor of agriculture, wrote a weekly column for the magazine October and was strongly opposed to Islamic extremism. He had published several books on, among other things, the Muslim Brotherhood, secularism and terrorism.

In recent months, Egypt has seen an escalation in incidents of violence. These have included armed clashes between Islamic militant groups and security forces, violent clashes between the former and Christians in certain areas, and the killings of some security police officers. Such incidents have always been followed by mass arrests.

The issues of torture and arbitrary arrest in Egypt remain a major concern for Amnesty International. Two external documents were published recently on these issues: Egypt: Ten Years of Torture (AI Index: MDE 12/18/91) and Egypt: Security Police Detentions Undermine the Rule of Law (AI Index: MDE 12/01/92).

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters:

- stating that Amnesty International condemns extrajudicial executions by government forces and deliberate and arbitrary killings by armed opposition groups;

- urging that all those who have been arrested in connection with the assassination of Farag Foda or with the demonstrations which followed the initial arrests be humanely treated while in custody;

- urging that their names be made public, their whereabouts be made known and that they be given immediate and regular access to lawyers of their own choosing and their families;

- urging the immediate and unconditional release of all those who were arrested for the non-violent expression of their beliefs or activities.

page 2 of UA 197/92...

APPEALS TO:

1. General Muhammad

'Abd al-Halim Moussa

Minister of the Interior

Ministry of the Interior

Al-Sheikh Rihan Street

Bab al-Louk

Cairo, Egypt

Telegrams:Minister of the Interior, Al-Sheikh Rihan Street, Bab al-Louk Cairo, Egypt

Telexes:21361 MOICM UN

Faxes:+ 20 2 355 7792

Salutation: Dear Minister

2. General Mostafa 'Abd al-Qadir

Director

State Security Investigation Service

Lazoghly Square

Cairo

Egypt

Telegrams:General Mostafa 'Abd al-Qadir, State Security Investigation Service, Lazoghly Square, Cairo, Egypt

Salutation: Dear Sir

COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

Mr 'Amre Moussa

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Midan al-Tahrir

Cairo

Egypt

Telexes:92220 KHARG UN

Faxes:+ 20 2 723 173

Salutation: Dear Minister

and to diplomatic representatives of Egypt in your country

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 24 July 1992.