Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (Cairo)
19 December 2011
press release
Cairo — ANHRI strongly deplores the broadcasting of videos showing the testimonies of detained minor children, who were arrested on 16 and 17 December at Tahrir square and the Ministerial Cabinet, during a press conference held by the Military Council today.
The testimonies also accused Mohammed Hashim, publisher, of incitement against the Egyptian army. Hashim is one of the most important publishers in Egypt and winner of Hermann Kesten award of the German PEN Club.
ANHRI also announces its complete solidarity with Hashim, who has played an important role in the Egyptian revolution since its outbreak on 25 January and until now, by putting the headquarters of Merit publishing house, close to Tahrir square, in the service of revolutionaries and injured protesters.
As the attempts of the Military Council to defame detractors and political forces who uncovered the corruption and repression of Mubarak’s regime continue, ANHRI reiterated its deep condemnation over the Council’s ongoing attempts to portray them to the public as a threat to the security of the nation. Mohammed Hashim in particular has only given helmets and respirators to at-risk protesters. These are defensive tools that only protect them from being killed. The Military Council should have thanked Hashim for protecting Egyptian citizens and providing aid to the injured, to reduce the death and casualties toll during the Egyptian revolution, at the hands of security forces.
“Providing defensive tools to Egyptian citizens and children is an honor. Do they want to shed their blood without us providing any aid to them? What right do they have to accuse people, while they are accused of derailing the revolution, loyalty to Mubarak, and killing citizens? They are the real defendants, not someone who helps the injured” said Mohamed Hisham. “They are welcome to kill us. My life is not more precious than those of the martyrs Sheik Emad Effat and Dr. Alaa abdel-Hady, who were killed at the hands of the Military Council”.
ANHRI is also disturbed over the broadcasting of videos showing minor children as witnesses. This is a clear violation to their right to private life sanctity and to protection of minor witnesses and crime victims during investigation. It was better suited for the authorities to respect the Economic Council guidelines and the minimum standards of international children rights regarding children’s participation in achieving justice. They should have exerted more effort in disclosing the children’s identities to avoid any psychological and moral damage in the short and long term.
“Attempts to defame genuine opposition, political forces, and the civil society will only succeed in more decline for the Military Council’s credibility. There is no other alternative to an independent judicial committee to be formed by the Supreme Judicial Council, to investigate all the crimes committed against civilians and the revolution, bringing those responsible to justice, whether military or civilian parties, with total disregard for their positions and occupations. Nothing but the rule of law should prevail” said ANHRI.
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