Amnesty: Egyptian child subjected to horrific torture
Amnesty International is calling for the immediate release of an Egyptian child who it says was repeatedly raped with a wooden stick by security agents.
2 min read
Amnesty international has documented worsening conditions inside Egypt's prisons [Getty]
Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of a 14-year-old boy who says he was raped in detention by Egyptian security agents.
The group also called for those responsible for torturing the teenager to brought to justice.
Mazen Mohamed Abdallah's family told the organisation that whilst in custody the boy was repeatedly tortured in an attempt to elicit a forced confession.
This included electric shocks on his genitals and rape by a wooden stick.
"The horrific abuse described by Mazen Mohamed Abdallah gives a sickening insight into the widespread and routine use of torture and ill-treatment by Egyptian security forces in police stations," said Said Boumedouha, deputy director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Programme.
"That such abuse is meted out against children in detention is utterly deplorable."
Mazen was seized from his home on 30 September and brought to a police station in Nasr City for interrogation.
After being transferred to another police station in the city, Mazen said that his treatment worsened and he was subjected to repeated rape with a wooden stick.
Eventually, the prosecutor charged Mazen with belonging to a banned group, protesting without authorisation and inciting protest.
He was detained for 15 days, which - according to Amnesty International - contravenes Article 119 of Egypt's Child Law.
Egyptian legislation prohibits the pre-trial detention of children less than 15-years-old.
His detention has been repeatedly renewed and he has now been held for two months in an overcrowded cell with adults at the First Nasr City Police Station.
According to the Amnesty press release, requests by his lawyer to view the forensic report have been refused by authorities.
Mazen's mother told Amnesty International: "We voted for al-Sisi to protect my sons and their future. Even his 80-year-old grandfather [did]. Now my son's future is damaged with the [rape] incident. How am I going to teach Mazen to belong to this country and love it after he saw its darkest side?"
There have been numerous reports of worsening conditions in Egypt's prisons since the 2013 military coup.
The group also called for those responsible for torturing the teenager to brought to justice.
Mazen Mohamed Abdallah's family told the organisation that whilst in custody the boy was repeatedly tortured in an attempt to elicit a forced confession.
This included electric shocks on his genitals and rape by a wooden stick.
"The horrific abuse described by Mazen Mohamed Abdallah gives a sickening insight into the widespread and routine use of torture and ill-treatment by Egyptian security forces in police stations," said Said Boumedouha, deputy director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Programme.
"That such abuse is meted out against children in detention is utterly deplorable."
Mazen was seized from his home on 30 September and brought to a police station in Nasr City for interrogation.
After being transferred to another police station in the city, Mazen said that his treatment worsened and he was subjected to repeated rape with a wooden stick.
Eventually, the prosecutor charged Mazen with belonging to a banned group, protesting without authorisation and inciting protest.
He was detained for 15 days, which - according to Amnesty International - contravenes Article 119 of Egypt's Child Law.
Egyptian legislation prohibits the pre-trial detention of children less than 15-years-old.
His detention has been repeatedly renewed and he has now been held for two months in an overcrowded cell with adults at the First Nasr City Police Station.
According to the Amnesty press release, requests by his lawyer to view the forensic report have been refused by authorities.
Mazen's mother told Amnesty International: "We voted for al-Sisi to protect my sons and their future. Even his 80-year-old grandfather [did]. Now my son's future is damaged with the [rape] incident. How am I going to teach Mazen to belong to this country and love it after he saw its darkest side?"
There have been numerous reports of worsening conditions in Egypt's prisons since the 2013 military coup.
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