The Human Rights Actions Network
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EGY 001 / 9708 / OBS 005 Arrest of a human rights defender - New Information Cairo - Egypt 8th October 1997 The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, an FIDH and OMCT venture, has received news of the release of human rights defender Mr. Sayyed Ahmad Al-Tokhi. Brief reminder of the situation : The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders was informed by the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR), a member of the OMCT network and FIDH of the arrest of Mr. Sayyed Ahmad Al-Tokhi, a lawyer, member of the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR) and lawyer for EOHR's Fieldwork Unit. According to information received, Mr. Sayyed Ahmad Al-Tokhi was arrested on Saturday 9 August 1997 at 11:00 p.m. while boarding a plane to the United Arab Emirates after having obtained the necessary visa. Mr. Sayyed Ahmad Al-Tokhi was charged under the provisions of Article 86 (bis) of the Penal Code with verbally promoting ideas which contradict the fundamental principles of the ruling regime, inciting hatred and contempt of the present regime, hindering the implementation of the law and the Constitutional principles and inciting opposition to the authorities. It is clear that his arrest was related to his peaceful activities against Law 96(see below). New Information: The Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR) has recently informed the Observatory that the Higher State Security Prosecution decided on 5th October 1997 to release Sayyed Al-Tokhi, after 56 days in preventive detention pending investigations. The Observatory welcomes the release of Mr Tokhi, and would like to thank all organisations and individuals who intervened on his behalf; it remains concerned that according to information received, over 200 people, including human rights defenders, have been affected by arbitrary measures for opposing law 96 of 1992 and urges the authorities to ensure their physical and psychological integrity and that all those still in detention are immediately released in the absence of valid legal charges. Law 96 which will come into force in October 1997, raises agricultural rent and permits eviction. It replaces the laws put into place by Nasser which protected the rights of tenant farmers. In the context of this change over the past months, security forces have used violence to disperse meetings and marches organised by farmers, apparently resulting in the death and injury of a number of people. The EOHR fears that the incidents may be a prelude to further restrictive measures on the part of the authorities against political and popular forces opposing the implementation of Law 96 of 1992,. They further express concern that implementing of law 96 will lead to serious social unrest that may threaten the security and stability of the whole country. Geneva, Paris, 14 October 1997
