Hossam el-Hamalawy
A new video of Egyptian police brutality has surfaced:
[Video removed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhqG6N53WhY]
A police agent could be seen showering detainees, in what is believed to be a police station, with slaps while they are screaming out of pain, and begging the agents to stop. The police agents continue the beatings using sticks, while shouting verbal slurs.
I’ve just received news that Ihab Magdi Farouk has been sentenced today to three months in prison, on charges of “mobile phone theft.”
I was told by an EOHR lawyer who’s following the case that the Imbaba police agents are hysterically involved behind the scenes to try to reach a deal with Ihab, so as to drop the police brutality charges against the Imbaba Police Station agents, whose trial is coming up on 3 March.
The worrying developments, the lawyer I spoke to said, includes Ihab’s refusal to give the power of attorney to the EOHR lawyers, and instead using another lawyer his family brought him. “The lawyer is being pressured by one of the police corporals to drop the case,” he said. “There’s so much happening behind the scenes that we are not aware of.”
I have to say I’m really disappointed by the lawyers and investigative journalists who are handling/following Emad Kabeer’s case.
Where the hell is Emad now? I heard yesterday from a blogger that Emad had been transferred to Damanhour Prison. Is that true? Why Damanhour Prison which is far away from the eyes of his family and lawyers in Giza and Cairo? Why hasn’t the lawyers been updating us about the guy’s condition in prison? It is as if his case was closed and forgotten since he was sentenced to three months in prison for “resisting authorities.”
Every single one involved in the case had expressed concerns about Emad’s safety in prison when he was sentenced in January. Rights activists expressed fears of Emad being intimidated in prison, away from the world’s eyes, so as to either drop the case against Captain Islam Nabih, or change his story.
Al-Masry Al-Youm today, thankfully reminded us of Emad’s case, by publishing the minutes of the Prosecutor’s interrogation of lawyer Nasser Amin that took place last 25 November.
But that’s not enough! Hell, if we can even get daily updates about Emad’s condition in prison, then do it! To our journalist, lawyer and rights activist friends, do NOT forget Emad, and do NOT leave us in the dark here. Keep us updated please.