HRW condemns unlawful arrests of Morsi aides

The disappearance of five Morsi-era presidential aides casts doubt on the current government’s commitment to the rule of law, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

In a statement released Sunday, the human rights organization accused the government of forcibly detaining five members of former President Mohamed Morsi’s administration without due process, following his removal on July 3.

Director of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa division Sarah Leah Whitson said practices like these raise concerns regarding the commitment of the new government to the rule of law and the legitimacy of its roadmap for the interim period.

“What kind of roadmap is this, where a military-backed government can brazenly disappear former presidential aides for 150 days without any explanation?” the statement read. “Forcibly disappearing people for months on end doesn’t inspire confidence that this government intends to follow the rule of law.”

According to the statement, military forces detained five former presidential aides in an undisclosed place, with very little outside contact, following the removal of Morsi from power on July 3.  Five months later, HRW says the government is yet to acknowledge their detention or reveal the whereabouts of the detainees, which the statement says amounts to “enforced disappearance.”

HRW added that a “systematic crackdown” against the Muslim Brotherhood has been taking place since July, with authorities arresting “thousands of the group’s leaders, members and perceived sympathizers.” The human rights organization said it has collated significant evidence of arbitrary arrests without due process in Egypt, many of which have targeted individuals based solely on their political affiliations.

Initially, Morsi himself and nine members of his administration were held without charge. Since then, charges have been brought against Morsi and four of the other detainees, while five remain in custody without charge.

HRW identifies those without charge as former Foreign Relations Assistant Essam al-Haddad, former Expatriate Affairs Assistant Ayman Ali, former Foreign Relations secretary Khaled al-Kazzaz, former Media Adviser Abdel Meguid al-Meshali, and former Secretary to the Presidential Office Director Ayman al-Serafy.

HRW maintains that enforced disappearance is a crime under international law and has demanded that the Egyptian government releases the five former presidential aides immediately and unconditionally.