ÿWPC} 8>_¼ ƒÀV´Ãü|•ï9R—•DÓ¨Æs7¥„³«#ÉD9çÒ(ø/zOØãÍ´‚ ˜­¸—%Á ID(\Æh–Õkr¢@ã‚…ö^>@P¾MJ|B–ü(Tçû}ûdÉ0ÁëÁxy"B—(³YñäÅã5(ü&þ–‹ÞB!¾’3®È¥¤Ýª@ȤAãFâ|¹ó£|³ÇœîåÕšŸ²p¨ )d]ç6¬O|ê͸ׅ7ÊìnyŠO6Ÿ|¥d+—µROb ¼¼¸‡êkÚ))"ŸIþ©VÇÈØ!äR?oMi’À`©ÚXw—Ö˜C8ä¼5G† <%„nßdéa:Uü¥7ľy¼ÃÄžžÄßÑçJô¶[e{¬ÖúٕËŸ¹øágóœ‚öJnÉD9Hý@Ç[T²ý&9†º’W•#-oL@ìbÅ!üÕ%¡W0'Jùþ9Þ;º»G¤Ø}™£¥s?S™owßóSïÅüs Ÿ>÷P½\¹4¥ûàÓÍãX¢Û4þÜæÅdW=dÛ÷„0þ=l.5?A}£,£j½µZ¶—ÚÆ’„¦HÉÈþý !ø1TŸõ€ôÔ)#â°ŠÝÞÌSœö #Á¨UNi %· 0r½^ /w;4?Sb mdN{˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(J¨$¡¡Ó  ÓÔ€XïXXXÔÔ€XïXXXïÔ‡rÃ, eû*‡‚ä‘3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ¨!ÝÓ  ÓÔ€Xð(XXXÔÔ€Xð(XXXð(ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ  Óò òÔ‡¼³4»XXð(ÔEGYPTÔ#†Xð(X»¼³4„#Ôó óÐ ° ÐÓuÓÌÔUKUS.,Ôò òCAT€€Article€20€Examinations€Re:€Systematic€Tortureó óÔUS.,UK.,ôÔÐ ° Ðà  àÌò òCAT€€A/51/44€(1996)ó óÐ ˆØ ÐÌV.€ACTIVITIES€OF€THE€COMMITTEE€UNDER€ARTICLE€20€OF€THE€CONVENTIONÐ ` ° ÐÌ...Ð 8 ˆ Ðà  àÌòòB.€Summary€account€of€the€results€of€the€proceedings€concerning€the€inquiry€on€EgyptóóÐ `  Ðòòóó€€€€€€€€€€€Ð üL  Ð1.€òòIntroductionóóÐ è8  ÐÌ180.€Egypt€acceded€to€the€Convention€on€25€June€1986.€The€Convention€entered€into€force€on€26Ð À  ÐJune€1987,€on€the€thirtieth€day€after€the€date€of€the€deposit€with€the€Secretary-General€of€the€UnitedÐ ¬ü  ÐNations€of€the€twentieth€instrument€of€ratification€or€accession.€That€date€is€also€the€date€of€entryÐ ˜è Ðinto€force€of€the€Convention€for€Egypt.Ð „Ô ÐÌ181.€The€Committee€began€its€confidential€procedure€under€article€20,€paragraphs€1€to€4,€of€theÐ \¬ ÐConvention€with€regard€to€Egypt€in€November€1991€and€concluded€it€in€November€1994.€FurtherÐ H˜ Ðconsultations€with€the€State€party,€in€accordance€with€article€20,€paragraph€5,€of€the€Convention,Ð 4„ Ðtook€place€by€way€of€correspondence€from€April€to€May€1996.€On€20€November€1995,€theÐ  p ÐCommittee€decided€to€include€a€summary€account€of€the€results€of€the€proceedings€relating€to€theÐ  \ Ðinquiry€on€Egypt€in€its€present€annual€report.€The€text€was€adopted€by€consensus€on€7€May€1996.€òò4óó/Ð øH ÐÌ2.€òòDevelopments€of€the€procedureóóÐ Ð  ÐÌ182.€At€its€seventh€session,€held€from€11€to€21€November€1991,€the€Committee€consideredÐ ¨ø Ðinformation€on€Egypt€submitted€by€Amnesty€International€pursuant€to€article€20€of€the€Convention.Ð ”ä ÐPursuant€to€rule€75,€paragraph€1,€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€the€Committee€decided€to€invite€AmnestyÐ € Ð ÐInternational€to€submit€additional€relevant€information€substantiating€the€facts€of€the€situation,Ð l!¼ Ðincluding€statistics.Ð X"¨  ÐÌ183.€At€its€eighth€session€(27€April-8€May€1992),€the€Committee€had€before€it€the€additionalÐ 0$€" Ðinformation€requested€from€Amnesty€International,€information€submitted€by€other€Ð %l # ÐÌ__________________Ð ô&D"% Ðòò4óó/à0  àMr.€Ô_ÔPikisÔ_Ô,€a€new€member€of€the€Committee,€did€not€participate€in€the€adoption€of€the€text.€Ð à'0#& ÐHe€takes€the€view€that€as€he€was€nota€member€of€the€Committee€during€the€inquiry€andÐ Ì($' Ðconsequently€did€not€take€part€in€the€deliberations€leading€to€the€decision€of€20€NovemberÐ ¸)%( Ð1995€or€the€decision€itself,€it€would€not€be€right€for€him€to€take€part€in€the€formulation€orÐ ¤*ô%) Ðadoption€of€the€text€of€the€summary€account€of€the€results€of€the€proceedings€relating€to€theÐ +à&* Ðinquiry.€Ð|,Ì'+(#(# ÐÐ h-¸(, Ðnon-governmental€organizations,€the€reports€of€the€Special€Rapporteur€of€the€Commission€on€HumanÐ ° ÐRights€on€questions€relating€to€torture€òò5óó/€and€preliminary€observations€made€by€the€Government€ofÐ œì ÐEgypt€on€the€initial€information€submitted€directly€to€it€by€Amnesty€International.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ184.€On€5€May€1992,€in€accordance€with€its€mandate€under€article€20€of€the€Convention€and€rule€76Ð `° Ðof€its€rules€of€procedure,€the€Committee€invited€the€Government€of€Egypt€to€cooperate€with€theÐ L œ ÐCommittee€in€its€examination€of€information€on€allegations€of€the€systematic€practice€of€torture€inÐ 8 ˆ ÐEgypt€and€requested€the€Government€to€submit€its€observations€on€the€information€by€31€AugustÐ $ t Ð1992.€The€Committee€also€decided€to€request€further€information€from€non-governmental€sources.Ð  ` ÐÌ185.€The€replies€from€the€Egyptian€authorities€to€the€information€transmitted€to€them€in€May€wereÐ è 8  Ðreceived€in€October€and€November€1992€and,€therefore,€could€not€be€considered€by€the€CommitteeÐ Ô$  Ðat€its€ninth€session,€held€from€9€to€20€November€1992.€The€Committee€decided€however€to€continueÐ À  Ðconsideration€of€the€information€on€Egypt€at€its€tenth€session€in€April€1993€when€the€replies€receivedÐ ¬ü  Ðfrom€the€Government€of€Egypt€would€be€available€in€all€working€languages.€Additionally,€theÐ ˜è  ÐCommittee€decided€to€establish€an€informal€working€group€composed€of€Messrs.€Ô_ÔHassibÔ_Ô€BenÐ „Ô  ÐÔ_ÔAmmarÔ_Ô,€Alexis€Ô_ÔDipandaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMouelleÔ_Ô€and€Bent€Ô_ÔSorensenÔ_Ô€in€order€to€Ô_ÔanalyseÔ_Ô€the€information€receivedÐ pÀ Ðand€to€submit€proposals€for€further€action€to€the€Committee€at€its€April€session.€Further€observationsÐ \¬ Ðwere€submitted€by€the€Government€of€Egypt€in€April€1993.Ð H˜ ÐÌ186.€Having€taken€note€of€the€report€and€recommendations€of€its€working€group,€the€Committee,€atÐ  p Ðits€tenth€session€(19-30€April€1993),€decided€to€undertake€a€confidential€inquiry€in€accordance€withÐ  \ Ðarticle€20,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Convention€and€rule€78€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€and€designatedÐ øH ÐMessrs.€Ô_ÔDipandaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMouelleÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔSorensenÔ_Ô€for€that€purpose.€Mr.€Ben€Ô_ÔAmmarÔ_Ô€had€informed€theÐ ä4 ÐCommittee€that€he€was€unable€to€participate€in€the€inquiry.€The€decision€was€transmitted€to€theÐ Ð  ÐGovernment€of€Egypt€on€27€April€1993.Ð ¼  ÐÌ187.€Messrs.€Ô_ÔDipandaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMouelleÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔSorensenÔ_Ô€submitted€a€progress€report€to€the€Committee€at€itsÐ ”ä Ðeleventh€session€(8-19€November€1993).€In€preparing€the€report,€they€took€into€account€informationÐ €Ð Ðfurnished€by€the€Government€of€Egypt€in€reply€to€a€list€of€issues€they€had€submitted€to€the€EgyptianÐ l¼ Ðauthorities,€at€the€latter's€request,€at€the€end€of€August€1993;€information€received€from€threeÐ X ¨ Ðnon-governmental€organizations€during€the€period€May-October€1993;€as€well€as€the€views€of€anÐ D!” ÐEgyptian€human€rights€expert€designated€by€the€Government,€who€had€met€with€Messrs.€Ô_ÔDipandaÔ_ÔÐ 0"€  ÐÔ_ÔMouelleÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔSorensenÔ_Ô€in€the€beginning€of€November€1993.Ð #l! ÐÌ188.€By€its€decision€of€18€November€1993,€the€Committee€requested€the€Government€of€Egypt€toÐ ô$D # Ðagree€to€a€visit€to€Egypt€of€the€Committee€members€making€the€inquiry,€to€take€place€not€later€thanÐ à%0!$ Ð15€March€1994.€The€Committee€also€informed€the€Government€of€Egypt€that€the€purpose€of€the€visitÐ Ì&"% Ðwas€not€to€accuse€the€State€party,€which€was€making€a€sincere€effort€to€comply€with€its€obligationsÐ ¸'#& Ðunder€the€Convention,€but€to€ascertain€in€close€cooperation€with€the€Government€whether€or€notÐ ¤(ô#' Ðtorture€was€systematically€Ô_ÔpractisedÔ_Ô,€particularly€by€members€of€the€security€forces.€The€GovernmentÐ )à$( Ðwas€invited€to€respond€to€the€request€for€a€visit€by€31€December€1993.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ________________Ð T,¤'+ Ðòò5óó/à0  àE/CN.4/1990/17,€E/CN.4/1991/17€and€E/CN.4/1992/17.Ð@-(,(#(# Ð189.€On€15€December€1993,€the€Government€was€provided,€at€its€request,€with€a€copy€of€the€progressÐ ° Ðreport€and€conclusions€and€recommendations€prepared€by€the€two€Committee€members€making€theÐ œì Ðinquiry.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ190.€In€its€response,€dated€31€December€1993,€the€Government€stated€that€it€was€entirely€ready€toÐ `° Ðengage€the€Committee€in€requisite€consultations€and€a€dialogue,€with€a€view€to€agreeing€on€aÐ L œ Ðframework€within€which€the€visit€could€take€place.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ191.€Without€prejudice€to€any€further€decision€of€the€Committee,€Messrs.€Ô_ÔDipandaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMouelleÔ_Ô€andÐ  ` ÐÔ_ÔSorensenÔ_Ô€found€it€appropriate€to€draw€the€attention€of€the€Government€of€Egypt€to€the€generalÐ ü L  Ðprinciples€earlier€established€by€the€Committee€that€guide€the€missions€of€members€of€the€CommitteeÐ è 8  Ðdesignated€to€undertake€an€inquiry€in€accordance€with€article€20€of€the€Convention.€They€also€madeÐ Ô$  Ða€number€of€proposals€concerning€the€visit€to€Egypt,€which€could€constitute€the€main€elements€ofÐ À  Ðits€framework.€Those€proposals€and€the€general€principles€were€transmitted€to€the€Government€onÐ ¬ü  Ð28€January€1994.Ð ˜è  ÐÌ192.€Messrs.€Ô_ÔDipandaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMouelleÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔSorensenÔ_Ô€submitted€a€second€progress€report€(covering€the€periodÐ pÀ ÐNovember€1993-March€1994)€to€the€Committee€at€its€twelfth€session,€held€from€18€to€28€April€1994.Ð \¬ ÐThe€Committee€endorsed€their€proposals€concerning€the€framework€of€the€visit€to€Egypt€andÐ H˜ Ðdiscussed€the€matter€with€the€accredited€representative€of€the€Government€of€Egypt€at€a€closedÐ 4„ Ðmeeting€on€28€April€1994.€The€Committee€once€again€requested€the€Government€of€Egypt€to€agreeÐ  p Ðto€a€visit€to€take€place€not€later€than€17€September€1994.Ð  \ ÐÌ193.€The€Committee€invited€the€Government€to€reply€to€its€request€by€17€June€1994€and€stated€thatÐ ä4 Ðshould€no€reply€or€a€negative€reply€have€been€received€by€that€date,€the€Committee€would€continueÐ Ð  Ðwith€the€procedure€provided€for€under€article€20€of€the€Convention.Ð ¼  ÐÌ194.€On€15€June€1994,€the€accredited€representative€of€the€Government€reiterated€Egypt'sÐ ”ä Ðdetermination€to€comply€with€its€obligations€under€the€Convention€and€to€continue€its€dialogue€withÐ €Ð Ðthe€Committee.€His€Government€was€ready€to€send€appropriate€representatives€to€Geneva€to€discussÐ l¼ Ðwith€the€two€designated€Committee€members€all€matters€related€to€this€subject.Ð X ¨ ÐÌ195.€In€response€to€the€request€of€the€Government€of€Egypt,€Messrs.€Ô_ÔDipandaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMouelleÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔSorensenÔ_ÔÐ 0"€  Ðmet€an€Egyptian€delegation€on€3€November€1994€in€Geneva.€The€delegation€was€composed€of€theÐ #l! ÐPermanent€Representative€of€Egypt€to€the€United€Nations€Office€at€Geneva€and€four€high-rankingÐ $X" Ðofficials€from€the€Egyptian€Ministries€of€Justice€and€the€Interior.€€In€drafting€their€conclusions,€theÐ ô$D # Ðtwo€Committee€members€took€into€account€the€views€of€the€Egyptian€delegation.€They€submittedÐ à%0!$ Ðtheir€final€report€to€the€Committee€at€its€thirteenth€session,€held€from€7€to€18€November€1994.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ196.€On€14€November€1994,€the€Committee€endorsed€the€conclusions€submitted€to€it,€decided€toÐ ¤(ô#' Ðtransmit€the€final€report€and€conclusions€to€the€Government€of€Egypt,€and€invited€the€latter€to€informÐ )à$( Ðthe€Committee€by€31€January€1995€of€the€measures€it€intended€to€take€concerning€the€Committee'sÐ |*Ì%) Ðconclusions.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌ197.€The€reply€of€the€Government€of€Egypt,€together€with€its€observations€on€the€inquiry€report,€wereÐ @-(, Ðtransmitted€to€the€Committee€on€31€January€1995,€and€considered€by€it€at€the€fourteenth€session€(24Ð ° ÐApril-5€May€1995).Ð œì ÐÌ198.€Having€completed€all€the€proceedings€relating€to€the€inquiry,€the€Committee€on€4€May€1995Ð tÄ Ðinvited€the€Government€to€communicate€its€views€on€the€question€of€whether€a€summary€accountÐ `° Ðof€the€results€of€the€inquiry€should€be€included€in€its€annual€report€to€the€States€parties€and€theÐ L œ ÐGeneral€Assembly.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ199.€In€its€reply€of€26€June€1995,€the€Government€of€Egypt€reiterated€the€view€already€expressed€inÐ  ` Ða€note€dated€21€April€1995€that€there€was€no€justification€for€publication€and€cited€a€number€ofÐ ü L  Ðspecific€principles€on€which€it€based€its€opposition.€Furthermore,€the€Government€stated€that€theÐ è 8  Ðoverall€repercussions€of€a€publication€could€prove€highly€prejudicial€not€only€to€Egypt's€relationsÐ Ô$  Ðwith€the€Committee€but€also€to€the€principles€and€purposes€of€the€Convention.€In€a€furtherÐ À  Ðcommunication€dated€3€May€1996€the€Permanent€Mission€of€Egypt€to€the€United€Nations€Office€atÐ ¬ü  ÐGeneva€stated€the€following:Ð ˜è  ÐÌ"The€Permanent€Mission€reaffirms€what€was€stated€in€the€above-mentioned€letter€and€would€like€toÐ pÀ Ðdraw€the€attention€of€the€distinguished€members€of€the€Committee€against€Torture€to€the€sad€andÐ \¬ Ðbarbaric€terrorist€incident€which€took€place€last€month€in€Cairo€taking€the€life€of€and€injuring€manyÐ H˜ Ðtourists€as€well€as€nationals.€The€Permanent€Mission€wishes€that€the€Committee€against€TortureÐ 4„ Ðwould€reconsider€its€position€regarding€paragraph€5€of€article€20€of€the€Convention€against€TortureÐ  p Ðin€order€not€to€give€a€wrong€indication€to€the€terrorist€groups€and€their€supporters€as€explained€inÐ  \ Ðparagraph€6€of€the€said€letter."Ð øH ÐÌParagraph€6€of€the€letter€referred€to€by€the€Permanent€Mission€of€Egypt€reads€as€follows:Ð Ð  ÐÌ"6.€If€a€summary€account€of€the€results€of€the€confidential€proceedings€concerning€Egypt€wereÐ ¨ø Ðpublished€in€the€Committee's€annual€report,€this€might€be€interpreted€as€signifying€support€forÐ ”ä Ðterrorist€groups€and€would€encourage€the€latter€to€proceed€with€their€terrorist€schemes€and€to€defendÐ €Ð Ðtheir€criminal€members€who€engage€in€acts€of€terrorism€by€resorting€to€false€accusations€of€torture.Ð l¼ ÐIn€other€words,€it€might€ultimately€be€interpreted€as€signifying€that€the€Committee€is€indirectlyÐ X ¨ Ðencouraging€terrorist€groups€not€only€in€Egypt€but€worldwide.€This€is€definitely€not€one€of€theÐ D!” Ðobjectives€specified€in€the€Committee's€mandate."Ð 0"€  ÐÌ200.€However,€in€view€of€the€number€and€seriousness€of€the€allegations€of€torture€received€by€theÐ $X" ÐCommittee€and€considering€that€the€Government€of€Egypt€did€not€avail€itself€of€the€opportunity€itÐ ô$D # Ðhad€been€offered€to€clarify€the€situation€by€accepting€a€visit€of€the€Committee€members€making€theÐ à%0!$ Ðinquiry,€the€Committee€is€convinced€that€the€publication€of€a€summary€account€of€the€results€of€theÐ Ì&"% Ðproceedings€concerning€the€inquiry€is€necessary€in€order€to€encourage€full€respect€for€the€provisionsÐ ¸'#& Ðof€the€Convention€in€Egypt.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌ3.€òòConclusions€of€the€CommitteeóóÐ |*Ì%) ÐÌ201.€The€Committee€notes€that€since€November€1991,€information€on€allegations€of€torture€in€EgyptÐ T,¤'+ Ðhas€been€provided€mainly€by:€(a)€reports€of€the€Special€Rapporteur€of€the€Commission€on€HumanÐ @-(, ÐRights€on€questions€relating€to€torture;€(b)€Amnesty€International;€(c)€the€Egyptian€Organization€forÐ ° ÐHuman€Rights;€and€(d)€the€World€Organization€against€Torture.€Other€non-governmental€sourcesÐ œì Ðhave€occasionally€provided€information€during€the€inquiry.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ202.€The€Committee€is€aware€of€the€fact€that€most€of€the€allegations€received€by€it€have€been€madeÐ `° Ðin€a€particular€context:€€a€wave€of€violence€has€developed€in€Egypt€over€the€last€few€years€as€a€resultÐ L œ Ðof€terrorist€acts€perpetrated€by€extremist€groups€against€tourists,€foreign€residents,€EgyptianÐ 8 ˆ ÐChristians,€policemen,€high-ranking€officials€of€the€army€and€members€of€the€Government€and€theÐ $ t Ðparliament.€Those€acts€have€entailed€the€adoption€by€the€authorities€of€repressive€measures€such€asÐ  ` Ðthe€renewal€of€the€state€of€emergency€in€the€country€until€April€1997,€mass€arrests€and€severeÐ ü L  Ðpenalties,€often€the€death€penalty,€for€those€found€guilty€of€terrorism.Ð è 8  ÐÌ203.€The€Government€of€Egypt€states€that€it€remains€committed€to€applying€the€articles€of€theÐ À  ÐConvention€in€spite€of€the€terrorist€crimes€that€the€country€has€witnessed€-€the€aim€of€which€is€toÐ ¬ü  Ðoverthrow€the€democratic€system€-€and€that€it€promotes€the€principle€of€constitutional€legitimacy€andÐ ˜è  Ðthe€rule€of€law€in€order€to€counter€those€crimes.Ð „Ô  ÐÌ204.€Non-governmental€organizations€active€in€the€field€of€human€rights,€while€explicitlyÐ \¬ Ðcondemning€terrorist€acts€committed€in€Egypt€by€extremist€groups,€report€that€in€this€climate€ofÐ H˜ Ðconfrontation€torture€by€police€forces,€especially€State€Security€Intelligence,€has€been€regularlyÐ 4„ ÐÔ_ÔpractisedÔ_Ô.€Torture€seems€to€be€used€not€only€to€obtain€information€and€extort€confessions,€but€alsoÐ  p Ðas€a€form€of€retaliation€to€destroy€the€personality€of€the€person€arrested€in€order€to€intimidate€and€toÐ  \ Ðfrighten€the€family€or€the€group€to€which€the€person€arrested€belongs.Ð øH ÐÌ205.€The€Government€of€Egypt€had€the€opportunity€to€make€observations€on€those€allegations€bothÐ Ð  Ðin€writing€and€in€meetings€between€its€representatives€and€the€members€of€the€Committee€makingÐ ¼  Ðthe€inquiry.€The€latter€were€provided€by€the€Government€with€statistics€concerning€cases€in€whichÐ ¨ø Ðcustodial€sentences€had€been€handed€down€against€offenders€or€in€which€compensation€had€beenÐ ”ä Ðawarded€to€the€victims.€The€Government€states€that€violations€of€the€laws€prohibiting€tortureÐ €Ð Ðconstitute€exceptional€individual€cases,€which€the€two€branches€of€judicial€authority€(the€DepartmentÐ l¼ Ðof€Public€Prosecutions€and€the€Judiciary)€are€investigating€with€a€view€to€handing€down€legalÐ X ¨ Ðjudgements.€In€this€connection,€the€Committee€has€been€provided€with€detailed€informationÐ D!” Ðregarding€the€Egyptian€legal€system€and€on€court€judgements€imposing€penalties,€awardingÐ 0"€  Ðcompensation€or€ordering€a€search€of€places€of€detention.Ð #l! ÐÌ206.€From€the€observations€submitted€by€the€Government€it€appears€that,€generally,€Egypt€has€a€legalÐ ô$D # Ðand€judicial€infrastructure€that€should€enable€the€State€party€to€combat€the€phenomenon€of€tortureÐ à%0!$ Ðin€an€effective€way.€However,€it€also€appears€that€judicial€remedies€are€often€a€slow€process€leadingÐ Ì&"% Ðto€the€impunity€of€the€perpetrators€of€torture.€In€addition,€the€Committee€was€unable€to€find€in€theÐ ¸'#& Ðreplies€and€comments€submitted€by€the€Government,€information€that€would€have€dissipated€one€ofÐ ¤(ô#' Ðits€most€serious€concerns,€namely€the€role€of€State€Security€Intelligence€with€regard€to€the€practiceÐ )à$( Ðof€torture€in€Egypt.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ207.€The€Committee€takes€note€of€the€fact€that€most€of€the€allegations€of€torture€received€fromÐ T,¤'+ Ðnon-governmental€organizations€are€directed€against€members€of€State€Security€Intelligence€and€areÐ @-(, Ðconsistent€in€describing€the€methods€applied€by€them;€it€also€takes€note€of€the€fact€that€theÐ ° ÐGovernment€of€Egypt€categorically€denies€any€involvement€of€State€Security€Intelligence€in€acts€ofÐ œì Ðtorture€or€ill-treatment€or€even€in€the€detention€and€interrogation€of€arrested€persons€and,€as€indicatedÐ ˆØ Ðby€the€Government,€notes€with€concern€that€no€investigation€has€ever€been€made€and€no€legal€actionÐ tÄ Ðbeen€brought€against€members€of€State€Security€Intelligence€since€the€entry€into€force€of€theÐ `° ÐConvention€for€Egypt€in€June€1987.Ð L œ ÐÌ208.€Furthermore,€the€Committee€is€seriously€concerned€by€the€fact€that€the€information€receivedÐ $ t Ðfrom€non-governmental€sources€consistently€describes€State€Security€Intelligence€premises€andÐ  ` Ðmilitary€camps€of€the€Central€Security€Forces€as€places€where€torture€allegedly€occurs.€The€sameÐ ü L  Ðsources€report€that€since€these€places€are€not€included€in€one€of€the€categories€of€places€of€detentionÐ è 8  Ðspecified€in€the€Organization€of€Prisons€Act,€they€are€not€subject€to€inspections€and€investigationsÐ Ô$  Ðconcerning€allegations€of€torture.Ð À  ÐÌ209.€The€Government€points€out€that€the€task€of€State€Security€Intelligence€is€one€of€collectingÐ ˜è  Ðinformation€and€carrying€out€investigations.€The€Government€states,€in€this€connection,€that€StateÐ „Ô  ÐSecurity€premises€are€administrative€buildings€and€that€Central€Security€camps€are€militaryÐ pÀ Ðinstallations€and,€that,€therefore€these€places€are€not€among€those€where€people€may€be€detained.Ð \¬ ÐHowever,€the€Government€also€indicates€that€if€a€report€or€a€complaint€is€received€regarding€anyÐ H˜ Ðform€of€violation€of€a€citizen's€rights,€or€the€ill-treatment€of€a€citizen,€the€Department€of€PublicÐ 4„ ÐProsecutions€may€take€all€the€legal€measures€required€to€investigate€the€complaint€including€byÐ  p Ðinspecting€those€places€and€that€security€personnel€committing€a€criminal€act€are€accountable€to€theÐ  \ Ðcourts.Ð øH ÐÌ210.€According€to€the€Government,€most€of€the€allegations€concerning€torture€in€Egypt€relate€toÐ Ð  Ðindividuals€who€have€been€accused€or€convicted€of€acts€of€terrorism.€Those€persons,€or€individualsÐ ¼  Ðor€non-governmental€organizations€speaking€on€their€behalf,€have€made€allegations€concerning€theirÐ ¨ø Ðsubjection€to€torture€in€order€to€prevent€their€conviction.Ð ”ä ÐÌ211.€The€Committee€is€mindful€of€the€fact€that€it€is€the€responsibility€of€the€Government€of€EgyptÐ l¼ Ðto€combat€terrorism€in€order€to€maintain€law€and€order€and€it€deplores€and€condemns€unequivocallyÐ X ¨ Ðany€act€of€violence€and€terrorism€perpetrated€by€groups€trying€to€destabilize€the€Egyptian€institutions.Ð D!” ÐThe€Committee€wishes€to€point€out,€however,€that€under€article€2,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Convention,Ð 0"€  Ðno€exceptional€circumstances€whatsoever,€whether€a€state€of€war€or€a€threat€of€war,€internal€politicalÐ #l! Ðinstability€or€any€other€public€emergency,€may€be€invoked€as€a€justification€for€torture.Ð $X" ÐÌ212.€The€Government€of€Egypt,€which€has€undertaken€to€respect€all€the€provisions€of€theÐ à%0!$ ÐConvention,€including€those€of€article€2,€paragraph€2,€should€take€measures€to€ensure€that€thoseÐ Ì&"% Ðprovisions€are€implemented€strictly€by€all€State€authorities.€In€this€connection,€the€GovernmentÐ ¸'#& Ðshould€make€particular€efforts€to€prevent€its€security€forces€from€acting€as€a€State€within€a€State,€forÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthey€seem€to€escape€control€by€superior€authorities.Ð )à$( ÐÌ213.€In€its€observations,€the€Government,€while€affirming€its€commitment€to€the€provisions€of€articleÐ h+¸&* Ð2,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Convention,€totally€rejects€the€use€by€the€Committee€of€individual€allegations,Ð T,¤'+ Ðthe€credibility€of€which€has€not€been€established,€to€accuse€a€State€party€rashly€of€systematic€practiceÐ @-(, Ðof€torture€in€its€territory,€particularly€in€the€absence€of€an€objective€interpretation€of€that€concept.Ð ° ÐÌ214.€In€this€regard,€the€Committee€wishes€to€recall€its€views,€expressed€in€November€1993,€on€whatÐ ˆØ Ðthe€main€factors€are€that€indicate€that€torture€is€systematically€Ô_ÔpractisedÔ_Ô€in€a€State€party.€Those€viewsÐ tÄ Ðare€the€following:Ð `° ÐÌ"The€Committee€considers€that€torture€is€Ô_ÔpractisedÔ_Ô€systematically€when€it€is€apparent€that€the€tortureÐ 8 ˆ Ðcases€reported€have€not€occurred€fortuitously€in€a€particular€place€or€at€a€particular€time,€but€are€seenÐ $ t Ðto€be€habitual,€widespread€€and€deliberate€in€at€least€a€considerable€part€of€the€territory€of€the€countryÐ  ` Ðin€question.€Torture€may€in€fact€be€of€a€systematic€character€without€resulting€from€the€directÐ ü L  Ðintention€of€a€Government.€It€may€be€the€consequence€of€factors€which€the€Government€hasÐ è 8  Ðdifficulty€in€controlling,€and€its€existence€may€indicate€a€discrepancy€between€policy€as€determinedÐ Ô$  Ðby€the€central€Government€and€its€implementation€by€the€local€administration.€Inadequate€legislationÐ À  Ðwhich€in€practice€allows€room€for€the€use€of€torture€may€also€add€to€the€systematic€nature€of€thisÐ ¬ü  Ðpractice."€òò6óó/Ð ˜è  ÐÌ215.€In€the€case€of€Egypt,€the€Committee€finds€that€there€is€a€clear€contradiction€between€theÐ pÀ Ðallegations€made€by€non-governmental€sources€and€the€information€provided€by€the€GovernmentÐ \¬ Ðwith€regard€to€the€role€of€the€Egyptian€security€forces€and€the€methods€they€use.€This€contradictionÐ H˜ Ðconfirms€the€Committee's€conviction€that€a€visiting€mission€to€Egypt€would€have€been€extremelyÐ 4„ Ðuseful€to€complete€the€inquiry.€Unfortunately,€the€Government€of€Egypt€did€not€avail€itself€of€theÐ  p Ðopportunity€it€had€been€offered€to€clarify€the€situation€by€accepting€the€visit.Ð  \ ÐÌ216.€The€Government€of€Egypt€states€that€at€no€stage€of€its€dialogue€with€the€Committee€did€itÐ ä4 Ðprotest€against€the€request€for€a€visiting€mission€to€Egypt.€However,€it€continuously€affirmed€theÐ Ð  Ðneed€to€discuss€the€framework€through€which€the€visit€could€take€place,€in€the€light€of€a€clearÐ ¼  Ðunderstanding€of€the€articles€of€the€Convention,€as€one€of€the€important€factors€in€itsÐ ¨ø Ðdecision-making€on€the€subject.Ð ”ä ÐÌ217.€The€Committee€wishes€to€recall,€in€this€connection,€that€proposals€concerning€the€visit€to€Egypt,Ð l¼ Ðas€referred€to€in€paragraphs€185€and€186€above,€were€transmitted€to€the€Government€of€Egypt€on€28Ð X ¨ ÐJanuary€1994€and€brought€to€the€attention€of€its€accredited€representative€on€28€April€1994.€NoÐ D!” Ðreplies€to€those€proposals€were€received.Ð 0"€  ÐÌ218.€In€the€absence€of€a€visit€to€Egypt,€the€Committee€therefore€could€neither€support€theÐ $X" ÐGovernment's€position€nor€call€into€question€the€allegations€of€torture,€and€it€had€to€draw€itsÐ ô$D # Ðconclusions€on€the€basis€of€the€information€available€to€it.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ219.€The€Committee€considers€that€the€information€received€with€regard€to€allegations€of€theÐ ¸'#& Ðsystematic€practice€of€torture€in€Egypt€appears€to€be€well€founded.€Its€conclusion€is€based€on€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðexistence€of€a€great€number€of€allegations,€which€came€from€different€sources.€These€allegationsÐ )à$( ÐÌ________________Ð h+¸&* Ðòò6óó/à0  àòòOfficial€Records€of€the€General€Assembly,€Forty„eight€Session,€Supplement€No.€44óóÐ T,¤'+ Ð(A/48/44/Add.1),€para.€39.Ð@-(,(#(# Ðlargely€coincide€and€describe€in€the€same€way€the€methods€of€torture,€the€places€where€torture€isÐ ° ÐÔ_ÔpractisedÔ_Ô€and€the€authorities€who€practice€it.€In€addition,€the€information€comes€from€sources€thatÐ œì Ðhave€proved€to€be€reliable€in€connection€with€other€activities€of€the€Committee.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ220.€On€the€basis€of€this€information,€the€Committee€is€forced€to€conclude€that€torture€isÐ `° Ðsystematically€Ô_ÔpractisedÔ_Ô€by€the€security€forces€in€Egypt,€in€particular€by€State€Security€Intelligence,Ð L œ Ðsince€in€spite€of€the€denials€of€the€Government,€the€allegations€of€torture€submitted€by€reliableÐ 8 ˆ Ðnon-governmental€organizations€consistently€indicate€that€reported€cases€of€torture€are€seen€to€beÐ $ t Ðhabitual,€widespread€and€deliberate€in€at€least€a€considerable€part€of€the€country.Ð  ` Ðà  àÌ221.€The€Committee€recommends€that€Egypt€reinforce€its€legal€and€judicial€infrastructure€in€orderÐ è 8  Ðto€òòóócombat€the€phenomenon€of€torture€in€an€effective€way.€In€this€connection,€the€Committee€wishesÐ Ô$  Ðto€emphasize€that€it€had€recommended€to€the€Government€of€Egypt,€in€November€1994,€that€itÐ À  Ðshould€set€up€an€independent€investigation€machinery,€including€in€its€composition€judges,€lawyersÐ ¬ü  Ðand€medical€doctors,€that€should€efficiently€examine€all€the€allegations€of€torture,€in€order€to€bringÐ ˜è  Ðthem€expeditiously€before€the€courts.€This€independent€group€should€also€monitor€the€safeguardsÐ „Ô  Ðagainst€torture€guaranteed€to€persons€deprived€of€their€liberty€under€Egyptian€law,€in€particular€byÐ pÀ Ðhaving€access€to€all€the€places€where€allegations€of€torture€have€been€reported,€by€alertingÐ \¬ Ðimmediately€the€authorities€concerned€whenever€those€safeguards€are€not€fully€respected,€and€byÐ H˜ Ðmaking€proposals€to€the€authorities€concerned€to€ensure€that€those€safeguards€are€respected€in€allÐ 4„ Ðplaces€where€persons€are€detained.Ð  p ÐÌ222.€In€addition,€the€Egyptian€authorities€should€undertake€expeditiously€a€thorough€investigationÐ øH Ðinto€the€conduct€of€the€police€forces€in€order€to€establish€the€truth€or€otherwise€of€the€manyÐ ä4 Ðallegations€of€acts€of€torture,€bring€the€persons€responsible€for€those€acts€before€the€courts€and€issueÐ Ð  Ðand€transmit€to€the€police€specific€and€clear€instructions€designed€to€prohibit€any€act€of€torture€in€theÐ ¼  Ðfuture.