Western diplomats: We've informed our friends in Egypt's foreign ministry that they are putting those who wish to defend them in a tough position

At dawn yesterday security forces detained, according to more than one source, three political activists: Muhammad Al-Baqir, Strong Egypt Party member; Amr Midhat, Our Egypt member; and Muhammad Said, from the Socialist Revolutionaries.

Muhammad Imam, spokesman for Strong Egypt – a party that has had 20 of its members arrested over the past few days said: “The young men were stopped in an ambush in Nasr City and upon searching them they were detained and charged with possession of printed material opposed to military courts.”

Imam spoke to Al Shorouk via telephone while he and others were being chased away after taking part in a protest rally at Al-Muhandiseen. The rally was dispersed by the police who, according to Imam, used batons, shotguns and teargas. He said that the arbitrary detention of those who voice political dissent and demand an end to the curtailment of liberties has become a daily reality.

Meanwhile, Heba Morayef, of Human Rights Watch, has said that there is a sense of increasing anxiety within human rights circles because of the deterioration of the status of liberties in Egypt. This comes at a time when random detentions are on the rise with the expansion of repressive measures.

Morayef expressed concern that the “Interior Ministry is being allowed to return to its old practices and violations of liberties under the pretext of safeguarding the security of the citizens.” She pointed out that the approach adopted to maintain order or to guarantee basic political rights has been ineffective. There is a growing tendency since last November, she added, to use repression against the political opposition, whether in dealing with protesters or in dealing with those who carry leaflets expressing opposition to the regime’s decisions or political drift; “all under the pretext of combating the threat to public security”.

Morayef noted that the decisions taken by the authorities, which they purport to be within the framework of “fighting terrorism” and “foiling attempts by the Muslim Brotherhood to undermine security”, can no longer be taken seriously. This is particularly so when arbitrary arrests and detentions are not sparing even those who were in the forefront of the opposition to President Muhammad Morsi.

Meanwhile, Western diplomatic sources speaking to Al Shorouk on Saturday have expressed deep concern over the deterioration of the human rights situation. One European ambassador said that there has been a disturbing escalation in the course of “security confrontation” with the rallies of protesters “who were not specifically members of the Muslim Brotherhood.” Additionally, “there has been an unjustified escalation of arbitrary detentions of young men and women known to have been opposed to the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood throughout the last year”. He added: “We have advised our friends at the foreign ministry to try and convince security officials to revise their policies because what is happening is hard to defend before world public opinion even by the most loyal friends of Egypt”.

Another (female) ambassador from Europe said: “We are extremely concerned as we watch Egypt slide toward security fascism that may threaten social peace and may even prolong the duration of terrorist operations themselves. We have refrained from issuing statements embarrassing to the government. Yet, we do tell our friends within the Egyptian government that their security options have become extremely disturbing while failing, as we see, to be effective in stopping bombing attacks”.

On the other hand, Al-Noor Party sources said they directly and frankly called on “state officials at all levels” for an end to the practices carried out by the interior ministry, especially the arbitrary arrests and the holding of detainees without specific charges for long periods. They said they had not received a clear response or a genuine commitment in this regard.

According to one of these sources “the continuation of this security approach will expand the circle of hostility toward the official authorities. It will sooner or later also open widely the door of international criticism of Egypt. However, regrettably, there seems to be no clear willingness to do anything but this.” He added: “Complicating the internal political scene with too many detentions can never serve the objective of stability. It will only hinder development efforts and will cast profound negative shadows on what remains of the political process.”

Source: Shorouk news

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