{"id":10580,"date":"2022-04-26T14:53:22","date_gmt":"2022-04-26T14:53:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/protect-lawyers.org\/case\/amr-imam\/"},"modified":"2024-01-17T10:06:35","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T10:06:35","slug":"amr-imam","status":"publish","type":"listing","link":"https:\/\/protect-lawyers.org\/en\/case\/amr-imam\/","title":{"rendered":"Amr Imam"},"content":{"rendered":"

EGYPT: Arrest of lawyer and human rights defender Amr Imam<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

On October 16th,\u00a0 2019, lawyer Amr Imam was arrested by the police at his home. This arrest comes after the lawyer announced his intention to start a hunger strike as a sign of protest against the almost daily illegal arrests of human rights defenders and police abuses.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Police forces prohibited him from calling his lawyer or family members and his place of detention remained secret for 24 hours.<\/p>\n

On October 17th,\u00a0 2019, Amr Imam appeared before the State Security Prosecutor\u2019s Office and was assigned to case 488\/2019 for \u201ccollaboration with a terrorist organization\u201d, \u201cdissemination of false news\u201d and \u201cmisuse of one of the social network tools\u201d. The Prosecutor has ordered a 15-day pre-trial detention, but he is still being held in Tora Al-Mazraa prison, where family visits and access to a lawyer are strictly limited.<\/p>\n

In the context of the widespread repression of human rights defenders, the Egyptian authorities arbitrarily detained at least 16 lawyers in the exercise of their functions<\/strong>, including Haysam Mohamadann, Ziad el Alimy, Mohamed El Baker (Director of the Adalah Centre for Rights and Freedoms). Lawyers Esraa Abdel Fattah and\u00a0Mahinour el-Masry<\/a>\u00a0are being prosecuted in the same case No. 488\/2019.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The OIAD<\/strong>\u00a0expresses its deep concern about the serious threats faced by lawyers in Egypt.<\/p>\n

The OIAD<\/strong>\u00a0urges the Egyptian authorities to immediately release lawyer Amr Imam and has dropped all charges against him, including under Principle 23 of the\u00a0Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers<\/a>\u00a0adopted by the United Nations (1990):<\/p>\n

\u201cLawyers like other citizens are entitled to freedom of expression, belief, association and assembly. In particular, they shall have the right to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights<\/em>\u00a0(\u2026)\u201d.<\/p>\n

The OIAD<\/strong>\u00a0joins\u00a0the call of the UN Special Rapporteurs<\/a>\u00a0to call on the Egyptian authorities to respect the right of Egyptian citizens to freedom of expression, assembly and association.<\/p>\n

The OIAD<\/strong>\u00a0joins the call launched by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders<\/a>\u00a0(a partnership between the International Federation for Human Rights, FIDH, and the World Organisation Against Torture, OMCT):<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Actions requested:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Please write to the authorities in Egypt, urging them to:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical integrity and psychological well-being of Messrs. Gamal Eid and Amr Imam as well as of\u00a0all human rights defenders in Egypt;<\/li>\n
  2. Carry out a transparent, impartial, immediate and thorough investigation into the above-mentioned events in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before an independent tribunal, and sanction them as provided by the law;<\/li>\n
  3. Immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Amr Imam, as his detention is arbitrary as it seems only aimed at punishing him for his legitimate human rights activities;<\/li>\n
  4. Put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Messrs. Gamal Eid and Amr Imam and all human rights defenders in Egypt and ensure that they are able to carry out their activities without hindrance;<\/li>\n
  5. Conform in all circumstances to the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted on December 9, 1998 by the United Nations General Assembly, in particular its Articles 1 and 12.2.;<\/li>\n
  6. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights instruments ratified by Egypt.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Addresses:<\/strong><\/h4>\n