After 150 days of renewals of detention in front of the state security prosecution – the time allowed for the prosecution to renew detention without giving reasons or explanation for the cause of deprivation of freedom, Lawyer Mohamed el Baqer, founder of Adala Center for Rights and Freedoms, yesterday began his journey in front of the criminal court held at the police institute in Tora.
Adala Center was founded in 2014 by a group of HRDs, lawyers and researchers, to advocate human rights principles through providing legal aid, litigation and documentation in three programs: Criminal justice, right to education and students’ rights and refugee rights.
El Baqer was arrested from the premise of the state security prosecution on 29th of September 2019 while performing his profession as defense of Alaa Abdel Fattah, after which both were added to high state security case no 1356, where they were accused of joining a terrorist group – without clarifying the nature of the group, and disseminating false news, again without specifying the nature of that news.
After a “reception” during which both El Baqer and Alaa were subjected to beatings, humiliation and blindfold and then taken to the Tora high security prison II where they remain denied of time outside the cell, reading, correspondence, hot water, a bed or mattress and even heavy clothes despite the cold weather.
So far, Al-Baqer’s lawyers have not been able to obtain a copy of his file to clarify the nature and details of the charges against him, according to which his imprisonment has been renewed every 15 days. Today he begins the day of the 45-day journey per renewal in front of court.
Will the court be more explicit regarding the reasons why El Baqer is deprived of his freedom, family and helping his clients?
Why is Mohamed El Baqer in prison?
What terrorist act did he commit?
Why does Tora high security prison insist to deprive El Baqer of his rights granted by the law and constitution.
#FreedomforMohamedElBaqer
#FreedomfortheLegalProfession
Signatories
Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
Committee for Justice
Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms
Egyptian Front for Human Rights
El Nadeem Center against Violence and Torture