May 2010

1 May

General Ismail El Shaer, first assistant to the Minister of Interior, sends a warning to independent MPs refusing their request to organize a peaceful demonstration demanding political reform. The demonstration was planned to head to parliament to submit the demands to the chair. In its refusal, the Cairo security directorate states that within the current security situation such demonstrations and protests may lead to disruption of public security in the capital and obstruct traffic to the disadvantage of citizens interests. The security directorate held MPs responsible for any breach of its orders. (EL Masry El Youm)
The detention of 8 members of the Muslim Brotherhood was renewed for 15 days. They are charged with belonging to a banned group and possession of books and publications that advocate the ideology of the group. (El Shorouk)

2 May

Security forces close Hussein Hegazi street in advance of the workers' protest demanding the court-ordered minimum wage.
Security forces blocked downtown in preparation of the 3rd of May demonstration by MPs and representatives of political parties. A security source told Al-Masry al-Youm that the demonstrations will be stopped, even if force is required to do so, especially since “they have been warned.” The source added that security forces will be spread throughout Midan Tahrir, through Magis al-Shaab and Qasr al-Aini streets, and in front of the Omar Makram Mosque, and that demonstrators would be dealt with severely. The source confirmed that any group gathering in these areas will be arrested, indicating that the refusal of the Ministry of Interior to organization of the march stems from its fear of the outbreak of rioting during the march, and indicated that any person arrested will face a number of charges, including disrupting general security. The source added that coordination with Central Security and the Riot Police is underway for use of their assistance in breaking up the march should its organizers succeed in gathering demonstrators and beginning their protest. Deputies expressed their determination to organize the march despite the refusal of the Ministry of Interior, and assured that they will cautiously protect national security, the citizens’ security, and ensure that the police force is not attacked (Al-Masry al-Youm).
Dr. Hany Hilal, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, threatened researchers, employees, and administrators of the Mubarak City for Scientific Research and Technological Applications in Alexandria to “cut the neck” of whoever spoke of the decision to fire Dr. Mohamed al-Saadany, previous Director of the city, be it positively or negatively (Al-Masry al-Youm).
Egyptian police killed two African immigrants on the Egyptian border with Israel, one of whom was a 35-yr-old Eritrean immigrant. (Reuters) 3 May
Security forces surrounded and attacked more than 170 demonstrators in front of the garden of the Omar Makran mosque in Midan Tahrir, during their efforts to lead a peaceful march to the Parliament. They assaulted and injured the demonstrators, and kidnapped three activists, including Ahmed Douma. Among the demonstrators were six members of Egypt’s Parliament, the head of the Freedoms Committee of the Journalist Syndicate, and a number of public figures, demanding an end to the Emergency Law and the provision of guarantees for the upcoming legislative elections.
Security forces blocked downtown in preparation of the 3rd of May demonstration by MPs and representatives of political parties.
Ahmed Douma was taken before the prosecutor because of his participation in a demonstration demanding cancellation of the Emergency Law, and was charged with assaulting security officers, destruction of a kiosk in Midan Tahrir, and possession of a light weapon.

4 May

An investigation and charges were brought against activist Ahmed Douma for participating in an illegal gathering and assault of public employees during the performance of their duties. The prosecutor in the Central Cairo district took testimony from several police officers as victims.
Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Gamal Hishmat, Shoura Council member, was arrested on Friday, along with Osama Suliman, an engineer and Brotherhood leader. The arrest took place at a traffic checkpoint on Maahad al-Diny street in Damanhour. They were taken from Osama Suliman’s private car in front of dozens of eye witnesses, who confirmed that the security checkpoints were placed at the city’s entrances and exists since the afternoon, and that after the arrest of Hishmat and Suliman all of the checkpoints were dismantled.
After a seven-hour investigation, the Damahour prosecutor decided to order the detention of Dr. Mohamed Gamal Hishmat and Mr. Osama Suliman for fifteen days pending investigation, and placed them in the Damanhour transfer police department while awaiting transfer to a public prison.
Dr. Mohamed Gamal Hishmat and engineer Osama Suliman refute the charges against them and continue their hunger strike until the Ministry of Interior and the State Security prosecutor withdraw the fabricated case against them.
Cairo University’s Faculty of Commerce issued an administrative decision that resolves to bar fifty-five students from sitting for their examinations. The students named all belong to the April 6 Youth Movement and the Muslim Brotherhood. The decision was issued on February 12, 2010, on the basis of fraudulent investigations that never actually took place. The clear fraud of the investigations is considered reason enough to invalidate the decision, which includes several charges, among them: affixing stickers, distributing leaflets, and inciting unrest in the university campus; organization of an art exhibit without security clearance; and organization of demonstrations.
Regional authorities in the Port Said district of “Zarzara,” an area of informal housing in the city of Port Said, destroyed fifteen homes in a single-story unit with no prior warning, leaving the families residing in them without alternative accommodations, in order to allow for construction of a road. According to the Egyptian Center for Housing Rights, the police beat a number of those forced from their homes.

5 May

Dr. Mohamed Gamal Hishmat’s and engineer Osama Suliman’s health deteriorated when they arrived at Burg al-Arab prison this afternoon. The prisoners suffered from severe fatigue resulting from a hunger strike, which, they announced, was entering its third successive day, prompting the Attorney General for the Central Damanhour prosecutor’s office to issue a decision ordering immediate and urgent medical examinations. The results of the examinations are to be presented to the Attorney General’s office with the utmost speed.
The Committee for the Defense and Freedoms of Prisoners of Conscience organized a protest Saturday, May 8, 2010, and presented the Attorney General with a report regarding the following: 1) the assault and abduction of activist and Media Coordinator of the Bloggers’ Committee, on the charges fabricated against him, and on his continued imprisonment; 2) activist and blogger Tariq Hader, who was taken from his university to an unknown destination, for collecting signatures on behalf of Dr. Mohamed al-Baradei; 3) the continued imprisonment of Workers’ Party member Professor Bahaa al-Din Mohamed Abd al-Hady, without charge, for the seventh successive year, despite the issue of more than fourteen final judgments ordering his immediate release; 4) the continued imprisonment of Sinai activist Masaad Abu Fagr for the third successive year.

6 May

Activist Ahmed Douma will be transferred this Saturday, May 8, 2010, to the special (accelerated) section of the Qasr al-Nil Court for Misdemeanors, without completion of the investigation and without response to the requests of his defense team. It is worthy of note that the prosecutor turned a blind eye to the security officers' control of the court building in which the investigation was taking place, who prevented a large number of lawyers from meeting with Douma, and prevented witnesses from entering the courtroom in order to give their testimony of events. The prosecutor, nevertheless, heard the testimony of all witnesses presented by the Ministry of Interior. (The Egyptian Center)

8 May

A Palestinian prisoner recently released from an Egyptian prison, who requested that his name be protected, discovered new and extremely serious evidence that for the first times reveals the cause of death of Hamas leader Samy Abu Zahry's brother, Yousef Abu Zahry. The evidence confirmed that Abu Zahry was executed at the headquarters of the Egyptian state security apparatus. His death resulting from severe torture, particularly in the form of severe electric shocks. “The Jerusalem Press” reported that the anonymous Palestinian prisoner and a group of other Palestinian prisoners in Egyptian prisons were subjected to severe torture by the state security apparatus with the aim of obtaining information on Hamas. The prisoner stated that he heard martyr Yousef Abu Zahry scream as he was subjected to torture by electric shock until death. He also stated that he died in the basement of the state security building, not in the hospital at Burg al-Arab prison, and that the radio was played in order to cover the victim’s screams as he died. The source noted that Hamas leader Ayman Nofel, detained in Egyptian prisons during those days, was subjected to severed torture in order to obtain information about Hamas. The source went on to state that Yousef Abu Zahry’s brother, Hamas spokesperson Samy Abu Zahry, doubted the Egyptian authorities’ narrative, which claims that Yousef died a natural death resulting from his suffering from a number of diseases. He accused the Egyptian authorities of killing his brother. (http://www.egyptwindow.net/news_Details.aspx?News_ID=8126)
The Egyptian Association for the Advancement of the Child presented today, May 8, 2010, a report to the Attorney General requesting an investigation into the detention of Hanan Shaaban Ezzat Qutub. The girl is detained in the Omraneya police headquarters, in a location not intended for the detention of children. The girl is fourteen years old and has been detained pending investigation pursuant to misdemeanor case #747/2010 (Giza), from May 3, 2010 until the present.
A court decided today to prolong Ahmed Douma's detention despite the lack of any justification for doing so in the Egyptian constitution or criminal procedure laws. Attendees at the hearing stated that the court heard the case while there was a concentrated security presence inside the courthouse, and that the security forces surrounding the building prevented all opposing witnesses from even entering the court. (Association for the Freedom of Thought and Expression, Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights, Hisham Mubarak Law Center)

9 May

Three detainees attempted suicide in Al-Wady al-Gedid prison, having accused the prison administration of forcing them to perform immoral acts. Political prisoners in Al-Wady al-Gedid prison continued their hunger strike and their refusal to cooperate with the prison administration for the second week, and a number of them attempted suicide as a result of severe fatigue and their having been subjected to beating and torture, according to their lawyers. Amr Mohamed Hussein, age 28, detained since January 2006 on the basis of having belonged to “Al-Jihad,” tried on Monday to commit suicide by slicing an artery in his hand with a sharp object because of the severe pressure, beating and torture to which he was subjected. The prison’s head of investigations, Abd al-Hamid al-Sirfy, forced Amr to commit immoral acts, and tried to force him nearly every day to strip naked inside the ward and then parade him around the prison. Bahaa al-Din Abd al-Hady and Abd al-Hamid Shady attempted suicide as a result of their frustration and despair after having been on hunger strike from May 1 until the present without any improvement in their conditions. (Al-Youm al-Sabaa)
A number of students in Cairo University’s Faculty of Commerce submitted a complaint to the National Human Rights Council protesting the faculty dean’s decision to refuse them from sitting for their final exams during the second school semester, in May 2010. The students are accused of hanging posters on trees inside the university. In their complaint, the students clarified that they were only notified of their suspension from exams by chance. The faculty’s intention was to inform them of the decision merely one week before the exam, when the students could no longer protest the decision. (Ikhwan Online)
Hishmat and Suliman's families accused the state security apparatus of endangering the prisoners' lives, requested their immediate release in light of their severe illness, and stressed that they would continue their protest until their absolute release. A medical source stressed that it was imperative that the prisoners be transferred to a hospital in order to immediately feed them intravenously and place them in a well-ventilated area in order to prevent a sharp deterioration in their condition, in view of the immediate danger to their lives.

10 May

Amnesty International called for Egyptian authorities to cease their forced expulsion of around 200 families in the northeast of the country pursuant to a project to widen one of the roads. On Tuesday, May 4, bulldozers began to destroy and remove homes in the Zarzara region, a collection of informal housing in Port Said, leaving fifteen families homeless and 200 other families under threat of expulsion. The fifteen families were left without alternative accommodations on the day of their expulsion, and were granted merely 500 Egyptian pounds (89 U.S. dollars) as compensation for their homes.

11 May

Dr. Mohamed Gamal Hishmat, former MP, was transferred this morning to the French Qasr al-Ainy hospital upon the decision by his medical team that he was unable to be adequately (including treatment with x-rays and analysis) in Damanhour. A medical source confirmed that Dr. Hishmat’s condition had begun to improve after travel to Cairo to complete treatment and medical examinations. The medical care was necessary to overcome the poor impact on his health of a seven-day hunger strike, during which the interior ministry failed to transfer him to a hospital for necessary medical care, neglecting the health of one of its citizens and violating the rights to treatment and care afforded him by law.
Shoura Council election violations: The Ministry of Interior's excesses and violations in the 2010 Shoura Council mid-term elections began with the rights of Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed al-Ziat in the Hosh Issa, Abu al-Matamir and Abu Hams districts. Police investigators in Hosh Issa tore the candidate’s campaign materials just hours after they were hung throughout the city, and abducted Hosny al-Sheikh, one of al-Ziat’s supporters, as he was on his way to his home in Hosh Issa. He will be presented to the Hosh Issa prosecutor this afternoon. It was also reported that a large force from the Baheira security directorate was dispersed, led by Officer Gamal Matouly, an investigative inspector in the directorate, and accompanied by Captain Ahmed al-Sharqawy, deputy commissioner of the police department, and four truckloads of soldiers. They passed by all government facilities and banks in Hosh Issa, taking with them the security guard from in front of each of the institutions in order to aid Ministry of Interior in removing leaflets affixed throughout the streets. This instigated Hosh Issa’s residents. They were then threatened with imprisonment if they spoke of the events and were told that they would meet the same fate as Hosny al-Sheikh, who was arrested.

12 May

On Wednesday evening, the guard at Cairo University’s Faculty of Pharmacology closed the college’s doors and prevented all of its students from leaving the university campus. This came after a demonstration, organized by Muslim Brotherhood, on the university’s campus today protesting the referral of fifteen students to a disciplinary board. After the demonstration ended, at 5 PM, the students were startled as they tried to exit the university when the security let some through, but closed the university gates in front of students of the pharmacy college and Muslim Brotherhood students, in the midst of a concentrated Central Security presence, with police cars and a gang of officers awaiting outside. (Al-Youm al-Sabaa)

13 May

Today, Thursday, the security apparatus in Baheira governorate abducted Saad al-Naqib, a Muslim Brotherhood member from Abu Hams city, from inside the city council. Al-Naqib was on a campaign trip with Mohamed al-Ziat, a Muslim Brotherhood candidate in the Shoura Council mid-term elections for the Abu Hams district. The director of investigations prevented al-Ziat and his supporters from completing their tour inside the city council, and took al-Naqib from the middle of the group.
Three persons in Nagaa Hamadi were shot and injured after police mistakenly fired on them while attempting to kill stray dogs.

14 May

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights today demanded from Minister of Interior the immediate release of nine citizens who have been administratively detained pursuant to the Emergency Law for two months because of their connection to the Ahmadi sect. The Initiative also called on the Attorney General to issue an order ending the investigations, headed by the High State Security Prosecutor, of all those accused of “religious defamation,” and for sanctions for those responsible for the detention and interrogation of citizens on the basis of their religious practices, which violates the rights of freedom of belief and expression afforded to them by the constitution.
Security forces forcefully broke up the the tour of Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Aoud al-Ziat this afternoon. Al-Ziat is an electoral candidate running in the 2010 Shoura Council midterm elections in the Second District (Abu Hummus, Hosh Issa and Abu al-Matamir regions). During the altercation, security forces abducted Mohamed Mazen, one of al-Ziat’s supporters, and took him to an unknown location.
Residents of Gezirat Mohamed demonstrated against the government’s dispossession of their ownership to their land, and against their annexation to the 6 October governorate. Security forces broke up the gathering using tear gas, shot the residents with rubber bullets, and undertook random arrest campaigns, taking people from inside their homes. They erected a security barrier at each of the town entrances; arrested the women of the village, and held them hostage in order to force the men to turn themselves in; and arrested children of no more than 10 years of age, all amid an influx of a large number of armored vehicles, which were waiting to transport the detainees to unknown locations.
After waiting for more than 18 hours for the prosecutor’s decision against those charged from Gezirat Mohamed, the Associate Attorney General refused to grant lawyers of the Gezirat Mohamed defendants a decision. The lawyers were humiliated and ordered to go to the prosecutor’s guard station to await the decision.

15 May

Ahmed Douma’s hearing was postponed until June 22, with a continuation of his detention, after his arrest on May 3 during a demonstration demanding an end to the Emergency Law.
Supporters of a Muslim Brotherhood candidate in the Shoura Council elections were detained in the Alaa Osman Hassan detention center when dozens of them were randomly taken from their homes or off the street and arrested. Security forces cleared the streets in order to prevent the mobility of the Brotherhood candidate’s supporters.

16 May

The High Administrative Court heard the case of Cairo University Faculty of Commerce students regarding the dean’s decision to suspend 49 students, including 7 alumni and one deceased student. (Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression)
Police sent defendants in the Gezirat Mohamed case to the prosecutor this morning to present them at an unappointed time, but defendants were returned without having been brought before the prosecutor.
60 residents of Gezirat Mohamed were imprisoned for four days and refused food by the security apparatus.
Egyptian police shot a 39-yr-old Sudanese immigrant from Darfur, Adam Ali Mohamed, as he tried to cross the border.
Hamed Rashid, the Ministry of Interior’s Director of Legal Administration, confirmed the arrest of a number of employees of an independent PM, Muslim Brotherhood member Abd al-Fattah Eid, in Munfeya governorate. This came after his supporters hung banners protesting the extension of the Emergency Law. (Al-Doustour)

17 May

The Attorney General investigated rights activist Nasser Amin, Director of the Arabic Center for Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession, after his comments on the State Council’s position regarding the appointment of women in the judiciary.

18 May

State Security Investigations and Central Security forces attacked a march in support of Muslim Brotherhood candidate Alaa Osman Abouda, and beat Abouda and his supporters. Plain clothes officers seized his personal election campaign materials and abducted two of his supporters, whose names have not yet been determined. State security vehicles were seen at the arrests.

19 May

A number of lawyers staged a sit-in today in front of the Helwan courthouse and organized a march across the public road on Khasrou Street, branching from Sharif Street, in protest of a Helwan police officer’s detention of their colleague, Mohamed Ali Ahmed. Ahmed was illegally detained inside the police station while he was reviewing one of his client’s files. (Al-Youm al-Sabaa)
Security forces arrested 8 members of the National Assembly for Change in Baheira, Damanhour, during their gathering in support of Dr. Mohamed al-Baradei. Those detained are: Ahmed Milad, President of the “Ghad” (Tomorrow) Party in Baheira; Ahmed Madhat, Ghad Party member; Ahmed Bassiouni, Hany Idris and Mohamed Battour, National Assembly for Change members; Dr. Adel al-Atar, “Kefaya” coordinator in Baheira; and Essam Goueida and Said Abd al-Maqsoud, “Kefaya” movement.
More than 17 persons were arrested today by plain-clothes State Security Investigations agents as they were participating in a Muslim Brotherhood candidate’s election rally. The names determined so far of those arrested are: Ali Lotfy, doctor; Mohamed Darwish, businessman; Mottasem Abd al-Gowad, air conditioning and coolant technician; Mohamed Kohla, publishing house owner; Mohamed Fahmy; Ali Fahmy; and Ayman Shaaban. Initial information indicates that they are currently being detained in the Monsoura police station.
Two supporters of a Muslim Brotherhood candidate were taken this morning, Wednesday, May 19, 2010, as they hung campaign leaflets along Saad Zaghloul street in Ashmoun. The men, Atef al-Danasoury and Sayyid Sanger, were taken by plain-clothes State Security Investigations officers and are currently detained in the Ashmoun police station. It remains unclear what they are being charged with and why they were arrested.
Plain-clothes State Security Investigations agents and Central Security forces attacked a private election rally for Muslim Brotherhood candidate yesterday, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Dozens were arrested, the media was barred from photographing the events, and a photographer was assaulted and abducted. It is still not known who exactly was taken or where they are being held.
Baheira: Two supporters of a Muslim Brotherhood candidate were arrested this morning, Wednesday, May 19, 2010, by plain-clothes State Security Investigations forces, as they attempted to hang election propaganda in Abu al-Matamir. They are Ahmed Zacharia Yousef, lawyer; and Abd Rabba Khairy Abd Rabba, sanitation worker. They were beaten and tortured by a police officer and a number of intelligence officers during their detention in the Abu al-Matamir police station. The signs of torture were evidence on various parts of their bodies when they were presented to the prosecutor this evening.
Ahmed Seif al-Islam Hamed, lawyer and founding director of the Hisham Mubarak Law Center; Gamal Eid, director of the Arabic Network for Human Right Information; and blogger and activist Amr Gharbeia were transferred today to a criminal court. This came as a result of their solidarity with and defense of human rights activists in a case against Judge Abd al-Fattah Mourad for violation of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information’s intellectual property rights. (http://www.hmlc-egy.org/node/1509)

20 May

Damanhour State Security arrested Dr. Adel al-Ataf, coordinator for the Kefaya movement in Baheira; Said Abd al-Maqsoud; Essam Goueida; Ahmed Milad, lawyer; Ahmed Madhat; Hany Idris; Mohamed Batour; and Ahmed Bassiouni this evening at 11 PM. They were detained in the Damanhour State Security offices and have now been transferred to the Damanhour Investigations offices in the police department. A case has been prepared against the group, the evidence for which consists of posters in support of the National Assembly for Change.
Hazem Ismail, a teacher in a secondary technical school, was arrested this morning at dawn in Faqous, Sharqaya, after hanging campaign materials for a Muslim Brotherhood candidate.
A detainee known only as Mohamed was arrested and transferred to Burg al-Arab prison as punishment for his mother’s argument with a police officer’s aunt.
The Ministry of Interior arrested 17 persons from the al-Qady mosque while two Muslim Brotherhood electoral candidates for Monsoura, Abd al-Hamid Rishad al-Adel and Safwat al-Bakry, were present. Security forces handled the mosque attendees violently, forcing them into Central Security vehicles known as “the Box,” and taking them to an unknown location. Lawyer Yasser al-Gizar stated, “I exited the mosque to find a large number of intelligence and other officers. They threw me in the Box but then left me there after they learned I was a lawyer, and continued to beat the detainees.” (Al-Doustour)
The North Cairo Criminal Court accepted the complaint presented by lawyer Tariq Khader, a member of the April 6 Youth Movement. The complaint petitions against an order for his arrest issued pursuant to the infamous Emergency Law. Tariq was taken on March 25, 2010, but has still not been released. He was arrested the afternoon of March 25, 2010, from Alexandria University, for collecting signatures from university students for a National Assembly for Change statement and for a statement prepared by the April 6 Youth Movement demanding constitutional amendments and cancellation of the Emergency Law.
Police in Damanhour, Baheira governorate, arrested committee president of the Ghad party in Baheira and seven other opposition activists as they were gathering signatures for a “Together We Change” statement for the National Assembly for Change. Police took detained activists to the Damanhour State Security Investigations headquarters, then transferred them to the Damanhour police station, where they await presentation to the prosecutor tomorrow afternoon. Media reported that the detainees have been subjected to ill-treatment and other human rights violations. State Security officers abused and degraded lawyers investigating the reason for the arrests, and expelled them from Damanhour SSI headquarters. The names of the detainees are: Ahmed Milad (Ghad Party head in Baheira), Ahmed Madhat (Ghad Party), Adel al-Atar (coordinator for Kefaya in Bahira), Essam Goueida (Kefaya), Said Abd al-Maqsoud (Kefaya), Hany Idris (National Assembly for Change), Mohamed Battour, Ahmed Bassiouni (6 April Youth Movement).
Security forces, led by chief detective Amr Allam, harassed supporters of a Muslim Brotherhood candidate for the Abu Hams/Hosh Issa/Abu al-Matamir district as they hung banners this morning in support of the candidate’s campaign. Security fores limited how many banners could be hung and where, to the point where the candidate’s supporters were able to hang only three. At 3:30 AM, the officers, disguised so that they could not be photographed, drove through the neighborhood in a private car and ripped up the three banners. They then invaded one of the homes in the district, breaking down its door and sneaking into the property in order to destroy another banner. They they cut the neighborhood’s power lines, causing power in the entire district to short circuit, and spreading panic among the residents.
Security forces today abducted two residents of Abu al-Matamir in the early morning hours as they hung banners in support of Muslim Brotherhood candidate al-Ziat. They used local workers to call the neighborhood’s State Security, who sent its forces to tear up the banners and detain the candidate’s supporters. Police and investigators in the Abu al-Matamir police department then beat the detainees while arresting and booking them before taking them before the prosecutor, angering the neighborhood residents. The prosecutor released them, so State Security officers returned to abduct them a second time and brought them to State Security headquarters in al-Noubareya.
In a continuation of the security apparatus’s harassment of the residents of this area, security forces, led by Inspector Gamal Abdel Aty Bassiouni; Major Ahmad Al-Banna; and Colonel Mohammed Ammar, Associate Investigator in Noubareya surrounded al-Sabakeya mosque as those inside were preparing for the evening prayer. Security forces threw tear gas on people as they exited the mosque, abducting twelve Hosh Issa residents on the pretext that they had taken part in a demonstration. When residents tried to prevent security forces from taking Mahdawy Battiha, head of a well-known family in Hosh Issa, Central Security forces attacked them with batons, sticks, and tear gas, then moved through the streets threatening residents and throwing more tear gas. Among those still detained: Mahdawy Saad Battiha, Mohamed Abd al-Fattah Qareitim, Fouaz Mohamed Marei, and Saad Fariq al-Sheik.
Security agents destroyed the tent of Mohamed Ramadan, a Towson resident, after removing him from his position in front of Ministry of Agriculture headquarters to parliament. Ramadan said that he had come to protest in front of parliament after staging a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Agriculture for more than 40 days without any response from Minister of Agriculture Amin Abaza. Ramadan stated that a large number of the remaining protestors are considering moving their protest to parliament. (Al-Youm al-Sabaa)

21 May

Human rights organizations in Egypt, Bahrain, Palestine, Norway and Denmark issued a statement condemning the transfer of the case against Ahmed Seif, Gamal Eid, and Amr Gharbeia to trial, and began a campaign for the activists’ defense.
Eight members of the National Assembly for Change in Baheira are arrested: security forces attacked eight members of the National Assembly for Change in Baheira this evening as they gathered signatures for Dr. Mohamed al-Baradei’s petition for change. The forces gathered al-Baradei’s supporters in front of the Damanhour Sporting Club, insulting and hitting them, until police cars arrived. They then shoved them into the police cars and brought them to State Security headquarters, where they remained for the next three hours. Security forces remained surrounding State Security headquarters, fearing an angry reprisal by citizens, then transferred them to the Damanhour police station to await their transfer to the Damanhour Attorney General. The eight detained activists are: Ahmed Mohamed Milad (head of the Ghad Party in Baheira), Adel al-Atar (Kefaya coordinator in Baheira), Ahmed Madhat (Ghad Party), Essam Goueida (Kefaya), Said Abd al-Maqsoud (Kefaya), Hany Idris, Mohamed Battour, and Ahmed Bassiouni (National Assembly for Change). As the detainees’ defense team attempted to enter State Security headquarters to find an officer to speak to about the situation, they were instead assaulted with a barrage of insults and expelled from the headquarters entrance. They confirmed that the eight activists were subjected to abuses by security inside the Damanhour police department, led by Lt. Col. Amir al-Saadany. The prosecutor charged the activists with belonging to a banned organization, the National Assembly for Change; promoting the rejection of provisions of the law and constitution in speech and in writing; distribution of banners and pamphlets for the National Assembly for Change and for representing Dr. Mohamed al-Baradei; and obstructing traffic.

22 May

Nine supporters of Muslim Brotherhood candidate al-Ziat were detained for 15 days, and security checkpoints were used to detain 11 others. The original nine detainees are: Saad Farouq al-Sheik, lawyer; Mahdawy Hamdy Battiha; Mohamed Abd al-Fattah Qareitim; Fouad Mohamed Marei and his son, Fouaz Marei; Yasser Ibrahim Farag; Abd al-Hady Hosny al-Shihat; Mamdouh Sabah; Islam Farag Saqr, a relative of an NDP candidate; and Ibrahim Fathy Abd al-Hady Hidra, who was randomly detained Thursday after evening prayer as he was on his way to arranging his marriage contract.
A group of “Gazl al-Mahalla” football supporters submitted a complaint to the Attorney General accusing Alexandria security of assaulting them, insulting and severely beating them and severely injuring several in the process. This came during a match between the “Gazl al-Mahalla” and “Haras al-Hodood” teamsas part of the Alexandria league games, played at the al-Max stadium on Monday, May 17.

23 May

At 1 pm, security forces attacked and assaulted Amonseeto workers who were organizing a sit-in in front of the parliament. Several workers were badly injured as a result and sent to the hospital for treatment. The security forces also detained 7 workers and harassed journalists and activists who came in solidarity with the workers. At 4 pm, while journalists Sara Carr and Philip Rizq, in addition to Dr. Mostafa Hussein (El-Nadeem center) were visiting the assaulted workers and recording their testimonies, an officer ordered them not to take photos. He then took their IDs and mobile phones and led them to another official in the presence of Major General Farouk Lasheen. The officer searched their mobiles, deleted all the photos they took, and tore up Dr. Mostafa's papers containing the workers' names and injuries.

24 May

Security forces, led by Ministry of Interior inspector Gamal Abd al-Aati, attacked and searched the home of Sami Fathi al-Naggar`s, lawyer to Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Awad al-Ziat. Some of the home furniture was destroyed in the process. Abd al-Aati threatened al-Naggar`s wife and children, claiming that they would never see him again even if the prosecution allowed him to go. The inspector, nervous when he did not find al-Naggar at his home, attacked his father's and brother's homes and threatened them with arrest if they failed to bring him al-Naggar at the police station. He then resumed his violations of the law and attacked three buildings next to al-Naggar`s home, severely insulting the neighbors and threatening them that he would find who was responsible for hiding al-Naggar. (Muslim Brotherhood Information Office, Bouhiera).

25 May

A number of state security intelligence officers and soldiers, led by officer Hisham El Khatib and a number of investigation officers and informers from different police stations in Alexandria, attacked activists today during a peaceful protest organized by the National Association for Change in front of the courthouse, arresting several. One of the detained activists, Sayeda Fouda, developed a fracture in her right arm as a result of the beating and was taken to Nariman hospital for treatment. Charges: Demonstration and obstruction of traffic.
A police force from Bahira security directorate attacked the population of al-Shamasa village in Edfina to force them to leave their homes upon an eviction order by the governor, of which the population was not informed. The protests of the population were met with random arrests, beatings and tear gas. 70 people were detained in total, among them children. http://www.anhri.net/?p=6632
Detention and kidnapping of dozens of supporters of the Egyptian opposition in Shoura council elections: 17 arrested in Mansoura; 2 abducted from Menufeya; kidnap and torture of two Muslim Brotherhood supporters in Bahira; detention of Muslim Brotherhood supporters in Sharqeya; dozens arrested, including journalists,in Qalubeya.(source)

26 May

The April 6 Youth Movement declared that they have not been able to locate member Tareq Khedr, detained since March 25, 2010) in the Wadi al-Natrun prison complex. The Alexandria Attorney General and the Ministry of Interior confirmed this on the basis of the confirmation of Major General Hamed Rashed (the ministry's Legal Affairs Department Manager), in a discussion of the interrogation presented by Dr. Hamdy Hasan around kidnapping Tareq Khedr. For more details, go here.
A Hisham Mubarak Law Center employee was threatened with arrest by an Ismalia governorate security official, as he was defending high-need workers and drivers in emergency situations. For more details, go here.
Egyptian authorities released a Syrian citizen detained last month just after he arrived in Cairo airport, without announcing the reasons for the detention. The Syrian Committee for Human Rights declared that "the Syrian citizen Hossam Radwan El-Marei returned to his family after being taken by Egyptian state security from Cairo airport and detained for 38 days. During this time he was exposed to maltreatment and brutal torture, threatened with rape, shocked with electric current, kicked, hit, and severely insulted." The Syrian Committee confirmed this in a statement sent to Akhbar El-sahrq.

27 May

Forty-four persons from al-Shamasa village, Edfina city, Baheira governorate, were presented to the prosecutor in El-mahmoudiah. Eight children were let free and 36 persons were imprisoned for 15 days on accusation of participating in a demonstration and resisting authority. During the investigations carried out by State Security prosecution, lawyers found that the detainees were badly injured. The prosecution therefore decided to transfer the injured for a medical examination, and to examine homes attacked by the security forces.

28 May

Security forces detained four activists (Mamdouh Karam, Khaled Adham, Mahmoud al-Husseiny and Ahmed Ali) in Abanob city, Assiut governorate, while they were collecting public signatures for a petition of the National Assembly for Change. They took the detainees to Abanob police station and presented them to State Security Investigations before setting them free.

29 May

Al-Tagammou party activist Mohamed Rashed was assaulted and badly injured, requiring sutures in his head, 15 sutures in his right arm, and 5 others in his abdomen. This happened while he was trying to hang a banner supporting Abd al-Rasheed Helal, his party candidate in al-Badrasheen, 6th of October city.
Security forces, led by Gamal Abd al-Aati, the inspector of the Ministry of Interior, and Amr Allam, Abo Homos police station chief, attacked a mass march organized by Mohamed Awad al-Ziat supporters, the Muslim Brotherhood candidate for the third constituency (including Abo Homos, Hosh Issa, and Abo al-Matameer). The attack took place a few hours before Ahmed Ezz, the NDP organizing secretary, visited the city. Security forces used live rubber bullets and tear gas, injuring 30 al-Ziat supporters, many of whom were at risk and transferred to Abo Homos hospital. Security forces also kidnapped two members of al-Ziat's legal council, Gameel Deif and Ali al-Deeb, and one other person from the city.

30 May

Two men from Abo Homos are in Alexandria University hospital after suffering internal bleeding and severe eye injuries. A physician confirmed that yesterday the hospital received Ahmed Abas Saad El-Tokhy and, after a medical examination, it was found that he had eruptions in both eyes and he was suffering internal bleeding. He had been struck by a spray of bullets and his injuries were extremely severe. He was thus kept under observation; it remains unclear whether he will regain his eyesight see. Nashaat Galal El-Gharabawy was also taken to the hospital, where a medical examination showed an eruption in his left eye. He underwent emergency surgery, was subjected to CT scan and kept under observation.
Security forces in Helwan governorate abducted 50 supporters of Ali Fateh El-Bab, the Helwan Muslim Brotherhood candidate. Security forces in six vehicles cut their way into a march of Fateh el-Bab supporters, confiscated all the sound sets, and kidnapped 50 to an unknown location.

31 May

Blogger Amr Salama (who writes the "Lessa Aish" blog) was detained for documenting covering and counting the elections rigging.
Zakariah Abd al-Hameed, a Muslim Brotherhood candidate in Dakahlia, was detained when NDP thugs assaulted El-Hayaha satellite channel. The channel was in the middle of taping a cast during their meeting with another Muslim Brotherhood candidate, Eid Dahroug.
"Like an American action movie, but on Egyptian land."... that is how Azab Mostafa (a Muslim Brotherhood parliamentary bloc member, and the Brotherhood candidate in Bandar El-Giza) supporters described what happened in his electoral campaign march in El-Haram area on May 23rd. Supporters were kidnapped, detained and tortured in the neighborhood's infamous police station. The supporters state that they were tortured extremely violently: they were insulted, beaten on the backs of their heads, kicked (by men wearing shoes), and beaten with the butts of officers' pistols, and their staffs. This all took place under the supervision and participation of the police station chief. One of the detainees was badly injured as a result, left with two deep wounds in the head (each requiring 6 sutures) and swellings in the chest and back, with another swelling and dangerous blood clot in the eye.