UN urges Egypt to probe state-sponsored torture allegations

The UN on Friday condemned Egypt over the recent arrests of prominent activists and demanded that Cairo probe allegations that they were tortured by security services while in custody.

Several activists who played key roles in the 2011 revolution were among those arrested in recent weeks, including blogger and journalist Esraa Abdel Fattah and Alaa Abdel Fattah, an iconic figure in Egypt. 

Alaa Abdel Fattah and his lawyer, Mohamed el-Baqer - who is also being held - have both been accused of belonging to and providing funding for a terrorist group, the United Nations human rights office said. 

"People have a right to protest peacefully, and a right to express their opinions, including on social media," rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva.  

"They should never be arrested, detained – let alone charged with serious offences such as terrorism – simply for exercising those rights," she added. 

Esraa Abdel Fattah has been accused by Egyptian authorities of collaborating with a terrorist organisation and "spreading false news," according to the UN rights office. 

After her October 12 arrest, she was "beaten because she refused to unlock her mobile phone" and was "then allegedly forced to stand facing a wall for seven hours," Shamdasani said.  

Alaa Abdel Fattah, best known for founding the 6th of April youth movement that helped mobilise millions of Egyptians in the uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011, has also reportedly suffered physical abuse since his September 29 arrest. 

"Allegedly, prison officers blindfolded Mr. Abdel Fattah, forced him to strip down to his underwear and walk down a prison corridor while being struck on his back and neck," Shamdasani said. 

The rights office urged Egypt "to promptly and effectively investigate any allegations of torture or ill-treatment in detention."  

Activists say that the crackdown that began in late September is one of the worst since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi took power in 2014.

Egypt passed a restrictive anti-protest law in 2013 after Sisi led the military ouster of first democratically elected president Mohamed Morsi. A renewable state of emergency also remains in force. 

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