• MB News
  • July 1, 2011
  • 3 minutes read

El-Shater Sues Former Interior Minister Over Illegal Detentions

El-Shater Sues Former Interior Minister Over Illegal Detentions

Deputy Chairman for the Muslim Brotherhood, Engineer Khairat al Shater filed a lawsuit to the Attorney general against former interior minister, Habib al-Adly, former head of the State Security Investigation Hassan Abdel Rahman, Col. Mohammed Abdel Wahab, and Lt. Col. Hisham Tawfiq demanding an investigation into his 1995 arrest.

Al-Shater has been imprisoned without charges under the Emergency Law imposed since Mubarak’s rule, and spent more than 10 years of unjust detention since 1968. He was arrested and released many times during the 90s and rearrested in 2001. He was last arrested in 2005 under the controversial Emergency Law following the parliamentary elections in which the Muslim Brotherhood won 80 seats.

According to political analysts, al Shater’s detention along with other active members of the MB was part of the government’s policy to suppress the MB for their political activities and for being the strongest opposition in Egypt.

Although in 2005 the Supreme Court acquitted al-Shater and ordered his release; he was referred to a military tribunal where he had no right for an appeal.

According to al-Shater, his detention was arbitrary since it was an infringement of articles 9, 10 and 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and articles 9 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. He cited that Egypt is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ratified in 1982. Article 9 the ICCPR guarantees right to security and liberty of person. It stipulates that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedures as established by law, furthermore anyone arrested shall be informed of the reasons for his arrest and shall be promptly informed of any charges against him.

During interrogations, al-Shater was levelled with a host of fabricated charges including money laundering and belonging to an outlawed group in an attempt to intimidate other MB members from participating in the political arena since they were a threat to the regime and the ruling National Democratic Party because of their popularity.