Rights campaign: 3 illegally detained civilians referred to military trial

The No to Military Trials campaign revealed on Saturday that three citizens who have been reported missing by their families are now facing a military trial in a case known as the “Khairat al-Shater cell.”

Photojournalist Islam Gomaa, student Ahmed Saber Labib and Mahmoud Abdel Aziz al-Mourshedy all appeared in a video edited by the Interior Ministry and broadcasted on state television confessing that they belonged to a terrorist group aiming to hack personal social media accounts of police and military personnel, as well as government websites.

Cases of forced disappearances or kidnapping by security forces of activists have been on the rise recently. A census by the Freedom for the Brave campaign documented 163 cases of forced disappearances in the last two months alone.

According to No to Military Trials campaign member Mahmoud Salmani, this is the first group of citizens who have been forcibly disappeared to be referred to military court in the current crackdown.

Gomaa was allegedly kidnapped by police forces from his home in Haram, Giza, on April 23. His family knew nothing of his whereabouts until May 28, when his mother received a phone call telling her that Gomaa is currently incarcerated in Tora Prison and faces military trial. According to the campaign statement, Mourshedy was also allegedly kidnapped in Mohandiseen while leaving his work on April 23, while Labib was kidnapped from Housary Square in 6 of October City on April 27.

Prior to the video where the three civilians appeared, the Interior Ministry released a statement on June 2, which was aired on state television, revealing that the alleged cell was formed by jailed Muslim Brotherhood tycoon and leader Khairat al-Shater. The cell, according to the statement, consisted of three divisions, including a unit tasked with hacking telecommunication networks, a unit providing the cell with weapons and financial aid, and a third unit meant to act as a link between the cell and the Brotherhood’s Guidance Bureau.

The No to Military Trials campaign questioned the need to refer the defendants to military trial at the first place. “If the state is confident in the accuracy of its information, why it would resort to kidnapping and torture and keep any information of the suspects’ whereabouts from their families and lawyers?” the campaign asked. “Why would the state film their confessions while suspects are under threat and questioning, and use this for mere propaganda?”

Mourshedy appeared in the video accusing Gomaa of asking him to find a safe place to hide weapons. Later on, Gomaa himself appears in the video allegedly confessing that Brotherhood leader Ayman Ali asked him to form a cell working on hacking and “cyber intelligence.”

According to the police statement, the cell was monitored by Shater, Ali, Mahmoud Ezzat, Mahmoud Hussien and Ayman Gaballah.

Campaign member Sara al-Sherif also told Mada Masr that Gomaa’s family is unable to visit their so, as prosecution refuses to issue a visiting permit.

“The video shows that Gomaa’s nose is broken, and the light color around his eyes indicate that he was blindfolded for a long time,” Sherif said, questioning the legitimacy of the confessions by Gomaa.

His mother spoke to Mada Masr, denying any link between her son and the alleged terrorist cell. The grieving mother also added that in addition to breaking into his apartment in Haram, her apartment in Mansoura and the apartment of his mother-in-law were also stormed by security forces.

She also stated that the confiscated weapons in the video did not belong to her son. “They only confiscated his cameras and the money and gold owned by his wife,” the mother said.

The No to Military Trials campaign said that Gomaa and other suspects will stand before a military court on Wednesday.