Amnesty condemns treatment of Morsi supporters

Rights group Amnesty International says that hundreds of supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi are being denied their legal rights.

The organization has published an 18-page briefing that gathers the testimonies of detainees who allege mistreatment by authorities, including beatings and electric shocks.

Detainees told Amnesty that at police stations they were interrogated while blindfolded by men they believed to be intelligence officials from the National Security Agency, a practice, Amnesty says, “that is eerily reminiscent of Mubarak-era tactics.”

“At this time of extreme polarization and division, it is more important than ever that the office of the Public Prosecutor demonstrates that it’s truly independent and not politicized,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Middle East and North Africa Program Director at Amnesty International.

“These cases risk being seen as mere retribution rather than justice.”

Some 650 men were arrested during events at the Republican Guards headquarters on Monday when over 50 Morsi supporters were killed when the army opened fire.

Muslim Brotherhood lawyers told Amnesty International that while release orders were issued for some 650 suspects, an unknown number remain in detention due to their inability to pay bail ranging between LE1,000 and LE1,500.

Amnesty also expresses concern about Morsi and his aides, who have not been seen since July 3 when they were taken into custody and whose situation Amnesty says may amount to enforced disappearance. An Armed Forces spokesperson has said that Morsi is not being detained, but is being held for his own protection.

“Everyone has the right to due process, no matter what the authorities think of their political affiliation or their position. Mohamed Morsi and his team, like anyone, should be granted their basic rights, including immediate access to their lawyers and family,” Hadj Sahraoui says in the statement.