Egypt: Arbitrary detention and assault of human rights defender and journalist Kamal Murad

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that human rights defender and journalist Kamal Murad was beaten by police after being arrested on 17 June 2008. Kamal Murad is a journalist for the newspaper Al-Fajr. He has reported on cases of corruption and human rights violations committed by members of the police force in Egypt.

Further Information

Posted 25/06/2008 On 17 June 2008, Kamal Murad was reportedly beaten and insulted by police officers Mohammed Badrawy, Amr Allam and Mohamed Basiouni of the district of Rahmaniya in the Buhaira Governate in the Delta region. He was arrested after interviewing peasants in Ezbat Mohram in Rahmaniya and taking photos of police officers beating peasants in order to force them to sign leases with a local businessman whose two sons are police officers. Kamal Murad’s private notes, which included drafts of peasants’ interviews and statements, as well as the memory card from his mobile telephone were confiscated. The memory card contains photos of the assaults officers carried out against peasants. Three hours after being detained Kamal Murad was charged with attacking the police officers and inciting the peasants against security forces. His property has yet to be returned to him.

Kamal Murad had previously reported on the torture of Emad el-Kabir by police officer Ismal Nabih, who was subsequently sentenced to three years in prison. The police officers who attacked Kamal Murad are said to have referred to him as “the one who sent the officer to jail for three years”.

Front Line believes that Kamal Murad has been targeted as a result of his legitimate work in the defence of human rights, in particular his work to expose human rights violations committed by police officers in Egypt. Front Line sees this as part of an ongoing trend of harassment of human rights defenders in Egypt. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Kamal Murad.