I received the following statement from Dr. Aida Seif el-Dawla, the Chairman of the Egyptian Association Against Torture:
Who can protect Ihab Magdi Farouk against the terror of officer Muhammad El Shazli?
Once again the policy of hostage taking
The police interrogates his father and wife, takes his brother hostage and waits for him at his homeAs this statement is being written a number of policemen from Imbaba police station are present in Ihab Farouk’s residence waiting for him to return. This development followed a night long interrogation of his father and wife, followed by taking his younger brother, Muhammad Magdi Farouk, hostage until this moment.
Less than 24 hours after the release of today’s issue of the daily Al-Masry Al-Youm (Thursday, 1 February 2007) featuring the story of torture of citizen Ihabd Magdi Farouk, 19 years, at Imbaba police station, the police started looking for him at his residence. Not finding him there, they arrested his father and wife, took them to the same police station and interrogated them for 5 hours – from 2a.m. until 7 a.m. asking about the whereabouts of Ihab. Why do they want him? In order to settle some matters between him and some police sergeants, as claimed by the Imbaba police.
When Ihab did not show up the police arrested his younger brother, Muhammad Magdi Farouk, as hostage until the appearance of Ihab. At the same time a number of Imbaba police force remained at his residence waiting for his return. The situation continues until the release of this statement.
Behind this scenario targeting the terrorization of Ihab’s family is officer Muhammad El Shazli from Imbaba police intelligence.