’WPCc :p™iʕv3$x0»Ž%¬}…”v"$TŽŹŹ=é…ŗ‘=°±•®d¤ ×ķE-ę×`¶®Zļ”@wFžī†d§]Žä2=ĪbÅĘ&ßŗŗźĶĻOo~+¢¹>/aĒäø&+Ś^÷Š`’)āZļ•Ÿ×ģ†Ū$-óZ×µńUŹļ>żE¤™QρżyQm’^Z»óą.ŅŻi aŠŽŁƒzgģF‰°)‡ĀŲŒµD2cĆSßJi5‡Q&śKģW—×lb”Ž›6¼Y"¢.‡c¬«ĀhĀkSÜEG@õM8‰Æ³©h•.c2KĻ€”Ōw»PōeļöśI +žA—¾¶|ułōąŃJõ3ü‰k8zÉa ¾,T—™eū Ó#ō]Ą£›±ļš”[©‚Os¤¢UßX“Ēeń¢øqQ_Ė6kTM.½s–hSßķ²…±Ś9J‘*še”OdŸ+/°~“āb„A¢«ƒĀ»šuZ›ņE¢¢`r#’TĪā¶Nz„N-ūi“W!Zņąb_‰žh 5=7ģlč%Z¤Ē’«ł¹„ŪźN×/„Sć$mæŗ˜¢—s<*WŁ”Eńrr¬ī"’aōo8”P;{Ū½ęøü¢Č2P#/» #ɶUN %Ķ 0:Ó^ w41@ mBYNa˜\\YORK_UNIVERSITY\q_hrts_hp4000tnŅV,,,,ŅV0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,ŌUØf0— ½”u/ œk1¼¢œ3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ Ż ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌÓ  ӀŌ€¼f`»XXŌņ ņEGYPTó óŠ ° ŠÓ  ÓÓ  ÓĢĢŌ€X4X»¼f`Ōņ ņŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō€A/39/40€(1984)ó óŠ į1 ŠĢĢ287.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Egypt€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/26/Add.1/Rev.1)€at€its€499ņņthóó,Š  ķ Š500ņņthóó€and€505ņņthóó€€meetings,€held€on€2€and€5€April€1984.Š † Ö ŠĢ288.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party€who€stressed€that€theŠ X Ø  ŠGovernment€of€Egypt€attached€great€importance€to€human€rights€and€human€dignity€since,€as€statedŠ A‘  Šin€the€law€promulgating€the€Constitution,€š šman€was€the€cornerstone€on€which€the€fatherland€wasŠ *z  Šbuildšš.€€Modern€Egypt€had€always€recognized€that€promotion€of€human€rights€was€a€historicŠ c  Šnecessity€because€it€was€the€prerequisite€for€the€full€development€of€the€individualššs€personality.€Š üL  ŠFurthermore,€the€ņņŌ_ŌshariššaŌ_Ōóó,€which€reflected€the€principles€of€the€Koran€regarding€dignity,€Ō_ŌhonourŌ_Ō,Š å5  Šfreedom€and€equality€of€all€men€without€distinction€of€religion,€race,€or€Ō_ŌcolourŌ_Ō,€was€a€primary€sourceŠ Ī Šof€law€in€Egypt.€€He€drew€attention€to€the€explicit€statement€in€the€Constitution€that€EgyptŠ · Šencouraged€all€efforts€to€ensure€respect€for€personal€freedom,€the€latter€being€the€keystone€ofŠ  š ŠEgyptššs€modernization€and€the€full€development€of€its€population.€€Against€this€background€it€wasŠ ‰Ł Šclear€why€Egypt€had€assumed€a€major€role€in€elaborating€the€Universal€Declaration€of€Human€RightsŠ rĀ Šand€the€two€covenants€on€Human€Rights.Š [« ŠĢ289.€€The€representative€explained€that€the€initial€report€of€Egypt€sought€to€describe€the€generalŠ -} Šframework€guaranteeing€the€exercise€of€the€rights€and€freedoms€mentioned€in€the€Covenant€withoutŠ f Šgoing€into€the€details€of€various€legislative€provisions.€€It€should€be€regarded€as€a€š špreludešš€to€theŠ ’O Šdialogue€which€Egypt€hoped€to€establish€with€the€Committee.Š č8 ŠĢ290.€€Turning€briefly€to€the€report€itself,€the€representative€highlighted€the€fact€that€under€article€57Š ŗ  Šof€the€Constitution,€any€assault€on€personal€freedom,€on€the€private€life€of€citizens€or€the€violationŠ £ó Šof€other€rights€protected€in€the€Constitution€was€a€crime€and€not€subject€to€prescription.€€He€alsoŠ ŒÜ Šnoted€that€the€report€covered€a€number€of€human€rights€that€were€specifically€enumerated€in€theŠ u Å ŠConstitution,€including€the€equality€of€all€citizens€before€the€law€(art.€40),€the€protection€of€theŠ ^!® Šhuman€dignity€of€any€citizen€arrested€or€detained€(art.€42)€and€freedom€of€the€press€(art.€48),€andŠ G"—  Šalso€dealt€with€constitutional€guarantees€for€the€exercise€of€these€rights€and€freedoms.Š 0#€! ŠĢ291.€€Members€of€the€Committee€welcomed€the€accession€of€Egypt€to€the€Covenant€referring€toŠ %R # ŠEgyptššs€major€role€in€the€history€of€the€Arab€world€and€thanked€the€Government€of€Egypt€for€theŠ ė%;!$ Štimely€submission€of€its€report.€€They€regretted,€however,€that€the€Committeeššs€general€guidelinesŠ Ō&$"% Šconcerning€the€form€and€content€of€reports€were€not€followed;€that€the€report€was€too€concise,Š ½' #& Šparticularly€with€regard€to€information€on€measures€taken€to€implement€the€provisions€on€humanŠ ¦(ö#' Šrights;€that€no€reference€were€made€to€restrictions€of€human€rights;€and€that€the€report€did€notŠ )ß$( Šdiscuss€any€factors€or€difficulties€affecting€the€implementation€and€application€of€the€CovenantŠ x*Č%) ŠĢ292.€€With€regard€to€the€status€of€the€Covenant€in€Egyptian€law,€members€noted€that€article€151€ofŠ J,š'+ Šthe€Constitution€stated,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€that€š šConventions€to€which€the€Arab€Republic€of€Egypt€accedesŠ 3-ƒ(, ŠŌ_Ōhave€the€effect€of€law€after€they€have€been€signed,€ratified€and€published€in€accordance€with€theŠ ° Šprescribed€proceduresšš.€€Hence,€they€concluded€that€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€had€beenŠ ™é Šincorporated€into€Egyptian€law.€€In€this€connection,€it€was€asked€whether€those€provisions€could€beŠ ‚Ņ Šdirectly€invoked€in€court€and,€if€so,€whether€there€were€any€judicial€decisions€in€that€field.€Š k» ŠInformation€was€also€requested€as€to€how€conflicts€between€the€principles€of€Islamic€Law€and€theŠ T¤ Šarticles€of€the€Covenant,€particularly€articles€2,€3,€23€and€24,€were€resolved;€and€whether€and€in€whatŠ =  Šlanguage€the€Government€had€published€the€text€of€the€Covenant.Š & v ŠĢ293.€€Concerning€article€1€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€noted€with€regret€that€the€report€did€not€provideŠ ų H Šany€specific€information€on€the€right€to€self„determination.€€Clarification€was€sought€as€to€whatŠ į 1  Šmeasures€had€been€taken€by€Egypt€to€promote€the€exercise€of€the€right€of€self„determination,Š Ź   Šparticularly€with€respect€to€the€Palestinian€and€Namibian€peoples.Š ³  ŠĢ294.€€It€was€noted€that€the€report€made€no€reference€to€article€3€of€the€Covenant€(equality€of€women).€Š …Õ  ŠThe€question€was€raised€why€Egypt€felt€it€necessary€to€make€a€reservation€to€article€16€of€theŠ n¾  ŠConvention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€Women€after€not€havingŠ W§  Šmade€such€a€reservation€to€article€23€of€the€Covenant€which€was€equally€concerned€with€equalityŠ @ Šof€women€in€all€matters€relating€to€marriage€and€family€relations.€€It€was€also€remarked€that€noŠ )y Šspecific€information€on€the€implementation€of€articles€23€and€26,€particularly€with€regard€to€theŠ b Šequality€of€sexes,€was€contained€in€the€report.€€Statistics€were€requested€on€the€employment€ofŠ ūK Šwomen€in€the€public€and€private€sectors€as€well€as€on€the€proportion€of€women€in€elected€bodies€andŠ ä4 Šin€educational€establishments.€€Information€was€also€sought€regarding€measures€taken€by€theŠ Ķ ŠGovernment€of€Egypt€to€improve€the€status€of€women€and€ensure€their€participation€in€theŠ ¶ Šdevelopment€process,€particularly€in€rural€areas.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ295.€€Referring€to€article€4,€members€remarked€that€little€information€was€provided€about€the€š šStateŠ qĮ Šof€Emergencyšš€introduced€by€Act€No.€162€of€1958,€which€had€been€amended€in€1981€and€1982€andŠ ZŖ Šhad€remained€in€force€without€interruption€since€its€adoption,€and€noted€that€the€increased€powersŠ C“ Šwhich€it€conferred€on€the€executive€had€been€institutionalized€to€such€an€extent€that€it€could€beŠ ,| Šquestioned€whether€the€provisions€of€the€Constitution€were€still€applicable.€€Members€alsoŠ e Šwondered,€in€the€absence€of€notification€by€the€Government€of€the€state€of€emergency,€whether€theŠ žN Šimplementation€of€the€Act€implied€no€derogation€from€the€obligations€set€forth€in€the€Covenant.€Š ē 7 ŠRegarding€the€Supreme€Court€of€State€Security€established€by€the€Emergency€Act,€it€was€askedŠ Š!   Šwhether€articles€165€to€168€of€the€Constitution,€which€guaranteed€the€independence€of€the€judiciary,Š ¹" ! Šalso€applied€to€that€Court€and€who€appointed€its€judges.€€Further€questions€were€posed€as€to€whatŠ ¢#ņ" Špowers€the€President€of€the€Republic€had€under€the€state€of€emergency€and€what€remedies€wereŠ ‹$Ū# Šavailable€to€an€individual€to€counter€adverse€decisions€under€the€state€of€emergency€or€to€what€courtŠ t%Ä $ Šappeal€could€be€made.€€Noting€with€satisfaction€the€adoption€of€the€most€recent€amendment€to€theŠ ]&­!% ŠEmergency€Act€(Act€No.€50€of€1982),€which€provided€for€some€liberalization,€information€wasŠ F'–"& Šrequested€whether€this€process€would€continue€so€that€article€9,€paragraphs€2€and€3,€and€article€14,Š /(#' Šparagraphs€1€and€3€(a)€and€(c),€of€the€Covenant€could€be€fully€implemented.€€Regret€was€expressed,Š )h$( Šhowever,€that€Act€No.€50€of€1982€had€not€abolished€the€power€of€the€Prime€Minister€to€order€thatŠ *Q%) Ša€person€who€had€already€been€convicted€or€acquitted€by€a€definitive€judgement€should€be€judgedŠ ź*:&* Šagain€on€the€same€offence,€such€order€seeming€to€be€contrary€to€article€14,€paragraph€7,€of€theŠ Ó+#'+ ŠCovenant;€and€that€the€executive€still€had€the€power€to€promulgate€decrees€and€ordinances€Ō_ŌwhichŠ ¼, (, Šcould€affect€rights€guaranteed€in€the€Covenant.€€For€example,€it€appeared€that€Act€No.€34€of€1972,Š „-õ(- Šrelating€to€the€protection€of€national€unity,€restricted€the€exercise€of€fundamental€rights.Š ° ŠĢ296.€€Regret€was€also€voiced,€in€connection€with€article€6€of€the€Covenant,€that€the€report€made€noŠ ‚Ņ Šreference€to€measures€to€abolish€capital€punishment,€which€still€existed€under€the€Egyptian€PenalŠ k» Šand€Military€Codes,€and€it€was€asked€whether€the€legislation€could€be€revised.€€It€was€added€in€thisŠ T¤ Šconnection€that€in€the€view€of€the€Committee,€any€measure€designed€to€abolish€capital€punishmentŠ =  Šwould€represent€progress€in€the€enjoyment€of€human€rights.€€Hope€was€also€expressed€thatŠ & v Šsupplementary€information€would€be€provided€on€such€subjects€as€life€expectancy€and€infantŠ  _ Šmortality.€€In€connection€with€articles€7€and€10,€information€was€requested€on€any€steps€that€hadŠ ų H Šbeen€taken€to€prevent€maltreatment€of€persons€in€police€or€military€custody,€and€in€connection€withŠ į 1  Šarticle€10,€about€prison€conditions€in€Egypt€and€about€training€programmes€for€police€and€prisonŠ Ź   Šguards.Š ³  ŠĢ297.€€Concerning€article€9€of€the€Covenant,€clarification€was€sought€as€to€the€conditions€ofŠ …Õ  Špreventive€detention€and€it€was€noted€that€the€intervention€of€the€President€of€the€Republic€in€casesŠ n¾  Šof€preventive€detention€was€a€serious€violation€of€the€principle€of€separation€of€powers.€€InŠ W§  Šparticular,€members€inquired€as€to€how€long€a€person€could€be€detained€prior€to€appearing€beforeŠ @ Ša€judge,€whether€there€was€any€right€of€appeal,€and€whether€individuals€could€be€arrested€on€politicalŠ )y Šgrounds€without€having€committed€any€criminal€acts.Š b ŠĢ298.€€Noting€that€no€information€was€provided€in€the€report€on€article€13€of€the€Covenant,€it€wasŠ ä4 Šasked€whether€any€legislation€had€been€enacted€to€effectively€implement€the€provisions€of€thatŠ Ķ Šarticle.Š ¶ ŠĢ299.€€A€considerable€number€of€questions€and€points€were€raised€by€members€concerning€article€14,Š ˆŲ Šincluding€the€following:€(a)€what€were€the€qualifications€of€appointees€to€the€State€Security€CourtsŠ qĮ Šestablished€under€article€171€of€the€Constitution€and€were€they€such€as€to€ensure€the€impartiality€ofŠ ZŖ Šthe€Courts€and€their€independence€of€the€executive;€(b)€was€there€a€right€to€appeal€against€decisionsŠ C“ Šof€the€State€Security€Courts€to€higher€tribunals;€(c)€the€power€of€the€President€or€Prime€Minister€toŠ ,| Šorder€a€retrial€before€another€court€of€persons€acquitted€by€a€State€Security€Court€represented€doubleŠ e Šjeopardy€„€contrary€to€article€14,€paragraph€7,€and€hope€was€expressed€that€the€provision€would€beŠ žN Šreviewed€by€the€Government;€(d)€doubt€was€expressed€that€individuals€could€be€assured€a€fairŠ ē 7 Šhearing€before€a€State€Security€Court,€if€tried€together€with€other€defendants€in€mass€trial;€(e)€wasŠ Š!   Šthere€an€independent€professional€association€of€lawyers;€€(f)€were€judges€elected€or€appointed€andŠ ¹" ! Šwhat€moral€criteria€were€used€in€the€process?€€Was€the€term€š šsocialist€conductšš,€used€in€the€report,Š ¢#ņ" Šdefined€anywhere?Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ300.€€Referring€to€the€protection€of€privacy€laid€down€in€article€17€of€the€Covenant,€membersŠ ]&­!% Šinquired€whether€measures€such€as€surveillance€of€correspondence€and€telephone€conversationsŠ F'–"& Šcould€be€ordered€or€implemented€by€authorities€other€than€judicial€authorities€and,€if€so,€by€whichŠ /(#' Šauthorities€and€in€which€cases.Š )h$( ŠĢ301.€€As€regards€article€18€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€noted€that€according€to€the€report€EgyptŠ ź*:&* Šguaranteed€freedom€of€belief€and€of€religious€observance.€€In€this€connection,€information€wasŠ Ó+#'+ Šsought€on€the€relationship€between€on€the€one€hand€Christian€churches€and€those€of€other€religions,Š ¼, (, Šand€on€the€other€hand,€Islam,€the€State€religion.€€Specific€information€was€also€requested€concerningŠ „-õ(- Šreports€indicating€that€the€Coptic€community€in€Egypt€did€not€enjoy€equal€status,€that€the€head€ofŠ ° Šthe€Coptic€Church€was€under€a€formal€house€arrest,€that€church€publications€had€been€banned€andŠ ™é Šthat€the€church€had€difficulty€in€obtaining€permits€to€repair€and€build€places€of€worship.€€NotingŠ ‚Ņ Šparticularly€in€the€context€of€article€16€that€under€the€Muslim€Code€of€Religious€Law€it€appearedŠ k» Šthat€Muslims€who€converted€to€another€religion€were€considered€legally€dead,€members€requestedŠ T¤ Šinformation€on€the€legal€status€of€such€converts.Š =  ŠĢ302.€€Referring€to€article€19€in€connection€with€articles€22€and€25€of€the€Covenant,€membersŠ  _ Šexpressed€concern€that€freedom€of€speech€and€of€association€was€restricted€on€grounds€of€š šprejudiceŠ ų H Što€the€spirit€of€national€unityšš.€€Members€wondered€what€authority€was€competent€to€decide€whetherŠ į 1  Šš šthe€spoken€wordšš€and€š šassociationšš€were€opposed€to€national€unity€and€whether€remedies€wereŠ Ź   Šavailable€to€individuals€in€this€context.Š ³  ŠĢ303.€Regarding€article€24,€information€was€requested€on€specific€measures€taken€by€the€GovernmentŠ …Õ  Šof€Egypt€to€ensure€the€protection€of€children.Š n¾  ŠĢ304.€€In€connection€with€article€27€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€noted€that€minorities€were€not€discussedŠ @ Šin€the€report.€€Information€was€requested€as€to€whether€there€were€any€minorities€in€Egypt€andŠ )y Šwhether€the€situation€with€regard€to€minorities€was€satisfactory.Š b ŠĢ305.€€In€his€reply€the€representative€of€Egypt€stated€that€he€would€answer€some€questionsŠ ä4 Šimmediately€and€that€all€questions€would€be€answered€in€a€supplementary€report€which€hisŠ Ķ ŠGovernment€was€ready€to€submit€in€the€near€future.€€His€immediate€responses€are€summarizedŠ ¶ Šbelow.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ306.€€Prison€personnel€had€to€be€police€academy€graduates€and€had€to€attend€courses€on€theŠ qĮ Štreatment€of€prisoners.€€Egyptian€prisons€which€came€under€the€authority€of€the€public€prosecutorŠ ZŖ Šreceived€regular€inspections€and€had€to€comply€with€comprehensive€instructions.€€Detainees€couldŠ C“ Šbe€imprisoned€only€by€decision€of€public€prosecutor.€€Imprisonment€which€had€not€been€subject€toŠ ,| Šany€regulations€until€1971€was€now€governed€by€legislative€texts,€e.g.€in€case€a€prisoner€died€anŠ e Šinquiry€had€to€be€initiated€by€the€public€prosecutor.€€He€explained€the€mandate€of€the€latter€even€inŠ žN Šother€respects.€€The€situation€in€Egypt€as€regards€torture€and€maltreatment€could€not€be€comparedŠ ē 7 Šwith€that€of€many€other€countries.€€Prisoners€received€normal€and€humanitarian€treatment.€€AŠ Š!   Šmedical€examination€was€obligatory€to€determine€that€a€prisoner€had€not€been€subjected€toŠ ¹" ! Šmaltreatment€during€detention.€€All€cases€of€alleged€health€maltreatment€were€investigated.€€A€lawŠ ¢#ņ" Šwas€recently€promulgated€stipulating€that€there€was€no€statute€of€limitation€applicable€to€acts€ofŠ ‹$Ū# Štorture.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ307.€€Egypt€did€not€think€it€was€necessary€to€abolish€capital€punishment€because€it€was€to€safeguardŠ F'–"& Šsociety.€€It€was€imposed€only€on€persons€jeopardizing€the€independence€or€integrity€of€the€State,€whoŠ /(#' Švoluntarily€joined€an€army€hostile€to€Egypt€or€who€had€been€found€guilty€of€wilful€homicide€orŠ )h$( Šhomicide€accompanied€by€theft.€€All€had€the€right€to€a€fair€trial;€in€the€mass€trial€of€President€Ō_ŌSadatŌ_ŌššsŠ *Q%) Škillers€sentence€had€not€yet€been€passed€because€each€of€the€accused€should€be€able€to€defendŠ ź*:&* Šhimself.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ308.€€The€proclamation€of€the€state€of€emergency€was€a€sovereign€right€of€the€State€exercised€by€theŠ „-õ(- ŠPeopleššs€Assembly.€€The€measure€was€introduced€to€ensure€stability.Š ° ŠĢ309.€€Only€the€most€eminent€persons€were€selected€as€judges.€€The€decision€to€reopen€a€trial€wasŠ ‚Ņ Šentirely€in€keeping€with€the€Constitution.€€The€Bar€Association€which€had€been€dissolved€hadŠ k» Šappealed€to€the€courts€and€had€won€its€case.€€This€was€evidence€of€the€independence€of€the€judiciary.Š T¤ ŠĢ310.€€As€to€the€right€of€self„determination,€Egypt€felt€that€recourse€should€be€had€to€all€possibleŠ & v Šmeans€to€end€the€colonial€domination,€terrorism€and€injustice€to€which€the€Namibian€and€PalestinianŠ  _ Špeoples€were€subjected.Š ų H ŠĢ311.€€The€Government€of€Egypt€was€Ō_ŌendeavouringŌ_Ō€to€reduce€infant€mortality,€which€was€due€mainlyŠ Ź   Što€dehydration€during€periods€of€drought,€by€undertaking€programmes€to€supply€drinking€water€inŠ ³  Švarious€parts€of€the€country.€€Social€Ō_ŌcentresŌ_Ō€and€medical€service€for€mothers€and€children€wereŠ œģ  Šavailable€also€in€rural€areas.Š …Õ  ŠĢ312.€Surveillance€of€telephone€conversations€had€been€completely€stopped€except€where€theŠ W§  Šintegrity€and€sovereignty€of€the€State€were€at€risk€and€could€then€be€authorized€only€by€a€courtŠ @ Šdecision.Š )y ŠĢ313.€€The€application€of€article€27€of€the€Covenant€to€ethnic€minorities€in€Egypt,€such€as€theŠ ūK ŠŌ_ŌNubiansŌ_Ō,€was€not€a€problem€because€they€were€an€integral€part€of€society.€€The€status€of€Islamic€lawŠ ä4 Š(the€ņņŌ_ŌshariššaŌ_Ōóó)€was€explained€in€some€detail.€€It€did€not€apply€to€Egyptians€of€other€religions.€€EgyptianŠ Ķ ŠCopts€were€full€Egyptian€citizens,€without€any€discrimination.€€They€were€allowed€to€holdŠ ¶ Šgovernment€posts€and€admitted€to€any€university€without€restriction.€€Economic€indicators€showedŠ Ÿļ Šthat€Egyptian€Copts€had€higher€incomes€than€Muslims.€€Church€construction€for€Christians€was€notŠ ˆŲ Šsubject€to€restrictions€and€the€number€of€Churches€constructed€per€year€was€rising€continuously.€Š qĮ ŠThe€allegation€that€a€Christian€could€not€sue€a€Muslim€was€false.€€The€head€of€the€Egyptian€CopticŠ ZŖ ŠChurch€was€not€imprisoned€because€of€his€religious€function€and€was€free€to€perform€his€religiousŠ C“ Šduties€and€to€see€members€of€the€Christian€Ō_ŌcomminityŌ_Ō.€€He€had€been€placed€under€house€arrest€byŠ ,| Šorder€of€President€Ō_ŌSadatŌ_Ō€in€accordance€with€the€Constitution,€and€the€case€was€currently€before€aŠ e Šcivil€court.Š žN ŠĢ314.€€Egypt€attached€great€importance€to€the€role€of€women€in€society€and€in€development.€€EgyptianŠ Š!   Šlegislation€guaranteed€respect€for€and€protection€of€principle€of€equality€between€men€and€women.€Š ¹" ! ŠWomen€held€posts€as€ambassadors,€were€members€of€governing€bodies€and€worked€as€administratorsŠ ¢#ņ" Šand€managers.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ315.€€Members€thanked€the€representative€of€Egypt€for€his€replies,€which€again€served€toŠ ]&­!% Šdemonstrate€the€importance€of€a€fruitful€dialogue€between€States€and€the€Human€Rights€Committee.€Š F'–"& ŠThey€expressed€the€hope€that€the€supplementary€report€of€Egypt€would€contain€answers€to€allŠ /(#' Šoutstanding€questions€and€would€take€into€account€the€Committeeššs€recommendations€and€viewsŠ )h$( Šas€well€as€the€general€comments€on€the€interpretation€of€articles€1€to€14€of€the€Covenant.€€As€EgyptŠ *Q%) Šhad€been€one€of€the€pioneers€of€the€movement€of€non„aligned€countries,€many€of€them€would€surelyŠ ź*:&* Šwish€to€follow€its€example€by€becoming€parties€to€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€PoliticalŠ Ó+#'+ ŠRights.Š ¼, (, ŠŠ  „-õ(- ŠŌ_Ōņ ņCCPRŌ_Ō€€A/48/40€(1993)ó óŠ ° ŠĢ666.€€The€Committee€considered€the€second€periodic€report€of€Egypt€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/51/Add.7)€at€itsŠ ƒÓ Š1244ņņthóó€€to€1247ņņthóó€meetings,€held€on€19€and€29€July€1993€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/SR.1244-1247).€€(For€theŠ l¼ Šcomposition€of€the€delegation,€see€annex€XI.)€Š U„ ŠĢ667.€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party,€who€drew€attention€to€theŠ ' w Šfact€that€for€many€years€Egypt€had€Ō_ŌhadŌ_Ō€to€confront€situations€of€violence€brought€about€byŠ  ` Širresponsible€acts€by€extremist€groups€which€tried€to€invoke€the€principles€of€the€Islamic€faith€inŠ ł I Šorder€to€achieve€their€own€political€ends.€Emergency€measures€had€Ō_ŌhadŌ_Ō€to€be€taken€by€the€EgyptianŠ ā 2  Šauthorities€to€combat,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€the€acts€of€terrorism,€but€the€representative€specified€that€theseŠ Ė   Šmeasures€were€in€conformity€with€the€provisions€of€article€4€of€the€Covenant€and€respectedŠ “  Šdemocracy€and€human€rights.€Š ķ  ŠĢ668.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€also€informed€the€Committee€that€after€the€report€underŠ oæ  Šconsideration€had€been€submitted,€the€Egyptian€Penal€Code€was€amended€by€the€promulgation€ofŠ XØ  ŠAct€No.€97/1992€which€regulates€the€measures€to€combat€terrorism€and€to€protect€human€rights.Š A‘ ŠOther€legislative€provisions€were€enacted€in€respect€of€elections€to€trade€union€executiveŠ *z Šcommittees,€the€minimum€age€for€the€employment€of€children,€which€was€increased€from€12€to€15Š c Šyears€of€age,€and€the€nationality€of€children€born€of€a€foreign€woman€married€to€an€Egyptian.€A€billŠ üL Šhad€also€been€submitted€to€Parliament€to€enable€an€Egyptian€woman€who€had€married€a€foreignerŠ å5 Što€transmit€her€nationality€to€her€children.€Further,€the€representative€stated€that€there€was€noŠ Ī Šcontradiction€between€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€and€those€of€the€Islamic€Ō_ŌShariahŌ_Ō,€the€onlyŠ · Šdistinction€being€that€the€Ō_ŌShariahŌ_Ō€applied€in€certain€spheres€relating€to€individual€and€family€status,Š  š Šin€which€case€Egyptian€courts€based€themselves€on€the€religious€law.Š ‰Ł ŠĢņņConstitutional€and€legal€framework€within€which€the€Covenant€is€implemented€and€state€ofŠ [« Šemergency€Š D” ŠóóĢ669.€€With€reference€to€those€issues,€the€Committee€asked€for€clarification€on€the€status€of€theŠ f ŠCovenant€in€Egypt,€in€particular,€whether€individuals€could€invoke€the€provisions€of€the€CovenantŠ ’O Šdirectly€before€the€courts,€and€how€a€conflict€that€might€arise€between€the€provisions€of€theŠ č 8 ŠCovenant€and€Ō_ŌShariahŌ_Ō€law€could€be€resolved.€The€Committee€also€wished€to€know€whether€thereŠ Ń!!  Šhad€been€any€proclamations€of€a€state€of€emergency€in€Egypt€since€the€consideration€of€the€initialŠ ŗ" ! Šreport€and,€if€so,€what€the€duration€of€the€states€of€emergency€had€been,€and€what€rights€had€beenŠ £#ó" Šderogated€from€during€such€periods;€whether€there€was€a€constitutional€or€statutory€basis€forŠ Œ$Ü# Šensuring€conformity€with€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant€in€times€of€emergency;€whether€anyŠ u%Å $ Šsafeguards€and€effective€remedies€are€available€to€individuals€during€a€state€of€emergency.€TheŠ ^&®!% ŠCommittee€requested€details€of€the€activities€being€undertaken€in€Egypt€to€promote€awareness€of€Š G'—"& Šthe€provisions€of€the€Covenant;€and€a€description€of€any€factors€and€difficulties€affecting€theŠ 0(€#' Šimplementation€of€the€Covenant.€It€asked,€in€particular,€what€impact€the€cultures€and€traditions€ofŠ )i$( ŠEgypt€had€on€the€implementation€of€the€rights€contained€in€the€Covenant.€Š *R%) ŠĢ670.€€Members€of€the€Committee€also€requested€information€on€the€judgements€handed€down€by€theŠ Ō+$'+ ŠSupreme€Constitutional€Court€concerning€the€place€and€status€of€the€Covenant€in€EgyptianŠ ½, (, Šlegislation€as€well€as€on€the€role€devolving€upon€this€Court€in€the€event€of€a€conflict€between€a€treatyŠ ¦-ö(- Šand€Egyptian€law.€Further€information€was€also€requested€on€the€composition€and€operation€of€theŠ ° ŠState€Security€(emergency)€Courts;€on€the€practical€implementation€of€€the€emergency€legislationŠ ™é Šand,€in€particular,€of€Act€No.€97€of€1992€aimed€at€combating€terrorism;€on€the€large-scale€arrests€thatŠ ‚Ņ Šwere€recently€carried€out€in€Egypt;€on€the€recognized€competence€of€the€Head€of€State€to€refer€casesŠ k» Što€a€military€court;€on€the€competence€of€military€courts€to€try€civilians€charged€with€a€breach€ofŠ T¤ ŠState€security;€on€administrative€detention€and,€in€general,€on€the€difference€between€theŠ =  ŠRevolutionary€Court,€the€military€court,€the€court€of€morals€and€the€Higher€State€Security€Court.Š & v ŠMembers€of€the€Committee€also€asked€the€reason€why€Egypt€had€not€€informed€the€other€StatesŠ  _ Šparties,€through€the€intermediary€of€the€Secretary-General,€of€the€proclamation€of€the€state€ofŠ ų H Šemergency,€as€it€was€required€to€do€in€conformity€with€article€4,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Covenant.Š į 1  ŠMoreover,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€whether€the€law€of€1980,€known€as€the€"lawŠ Ź   Šof€suspicion"€which€allows€any€individual€to€be€arrested€merely€on€suspicion€was€still€in€force;Š ³  Šwhether€the€independence€of€the€judiciary€continued€to€be€effective€in€the€context€of€the€state€ofŠ œģ  Šemergency;€whether€the€State€Security€Court€ruled€without€appeal,€and€the€reasons€why€its€decisionsŠ …Õ  Šhad€to€be€ratified€by€the€President€of€the€Republic;€and€why€the€Egyptian€Government€refused€toŠ n¾  Šgrant€certain€Egyptian€non-governmental€organizations,€such€as€the€Egyptian€Organization€forŠ W§  ŠHuman€Rights,€the€permission€necessary€for€them€to€carry€out€their€activities.€Š @ ŠĢ671.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€the€Covenant€formed€part€of€theŠ b Šdomestic€legislation€in€force€in€his€country,€thereby€conferring€on€it€a€status€equal€to€that€of€all€otherŠ ūK Šlaws.€In€the€event€of€a€conflict€between€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€and€those€of€legislation,€orŠ ä4 Šbetween€the€provisions€of€legislation€and€those€of€the€Constitution,€the€Supreme€ConstitutionalŠ Ķ ŠCourt€was€called€upon€to€rule€and€handed€down€judgements€that€were€binding.€He€went€on€to€sayŠ ¶ Šthat€the€state€of€emergency€in€Egypt€had€been€extended€for€a€three-year€period€with€effect€fromŠ Ÿļ Š1991,€and€that€this€measure€had€been€taken€in€conformity€with€the€relevant€provisions€of€theŠ ˆŲ ŠConstitution.€During€the€state€of€emergency€neither€the€Constitution€nor€parliamentary€activitiesŠ qĮ Šwere€suspended,€and€the€measures€which€the€President€of€the€Republic€took€to€restrict€freedoms€hadŠ ZŖ Što€be€based€on€the€law.€In€respect€of€pre-trial€detention,€the€representative€stated€that€the€AttorneyŠ C“ ŠGeneral€was€empowered€to€extend€its€duration;€a€detained€person€was€informed€immediately€inŠ ,| Šwriting€of€the€reasons€for€his€arrest€and€for€his€continued€remand€in€custody€and€was€entitled€toŠ e Šcontact€a€lawyer.€The€Emergency€Act€also€provided€all€the€guarantees€extended€to€a€detained€personŠ žN Šby€ordinary€law€as€well€as€the€right€for€a€detained€person€and€for€his€family€to€lodge€appeals.€TheŠ ē 7 Šrepresentative€also€indicated€that€the€Emergency€Act€did€not€authorize€any€of€the€measures€ofŠ Š!   Šderogation€that€were€prohibited€in€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant€and€that€measures€ofŠ ¹" ! Šdeprivation€of€liberty€had€been€taken€only€in€respect€of€persons€considered€to€be€dangerous€andŠ ¢#ņ" Šconstituting€a€threat€to€national€security.€He€also€stated€that€the€integration€of€the€provisions€of€theŠ ‹$Ū# ŠCovenant€in€domestic€law€at€times€involved€legal€difficulties.€Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ672.€€The€representative€stressed€that€the€Covenant€had€special€dual€status€in€Egypt:€the€rightsŠ F'–"& Šprotected€by€it€were€incorporated€in€the€constitutional€texts;€but€more€importantly,€it€enjoyed€equalŠ /(#' Šstatus€with€national€legislation,€following€the€principle€that€any€new€legislation€superseded€thatŠ )h$( Špreviously€in€force.€Accordingly,€any€law€passed€following€Egypt's€ratification€of€the€CovenantŠ *Q%) Šwhich€was€deemed€incompatible€with€that€instrument€was€declared€unconstitutional.€TheŠ ź*:&* Šrepresentative€also€explained€that€Higher€State€Security€Courts€were€ordinary€courts€composed€ofŠ Ó+#'+ Šjudges€from€the€highest€echelons€of€the€legal€system,€chaired€by€the€most€senior€judge.€AlthoughŠ ¼, (, Ša€provision€existed€for€the€President€of€the€Republic€to€appoint€two€officers€to€sit€with€the€panel€ofŠ „-õ(- Šjudges,€he€had€thus€far€not€availed€himself€of€that€power.€His€ratification€of€decisions€taken€by€theŠ ° ŠHigher€State€Security€Courts€did€not€constitute€interference€in€the€course€of€justice,€since€the€onlyŠ ™é Šrecourse€open€to€the€President€of€the€Republic,€should€he€take€issue€with€the€judgement,€was€to€referŠ ‚Ņ Šthe€case€back€to€the€same€court€for€retrial.€After€that€retrial,€the€verdict€would€become€final€and€noŠ k» Šfurther€reconsideration€of€the€case€was€possible.€Š T¤ ŠĢ673.€€In€describing€the€structure€of€the€judiciary€in€Egypt€the€representative€drew€the€Committee'sŠ & v Šattention€to€the€safeguards€and€immunities€which€guaranteed€its€independence.€He€stated€that€noŠ  _ Šspecial€courts€existed€in€Egypt.€The€Revolutionary€Court€had€been€set€up€in€1967€to€address€oneŠ ų H Šparticular€case€and€no€similar€courts€had€been€established€since€that€date.€The€military€courtsŠ į 1  Šconstituted€a€permanent€and€independent€judicial€system,€competent€to€investigate€crimes€committedŠ Ź   Šby€military€personnel€as€defined€by€general€law.€They€had€no€competence€to€consider€cases€in€whichŠ ³  Šcivilians€were€involved,€except€where€civilians€had€committed€crimes€under€ordinary€law€againstŠ œģ  Šmilitary€personnel,€facilities€or€property.€In€addition,€under€an€amendment€to€article€86€of€the€PenalŠ …Õ  ŠCode,€which€was€adopted€to€combat€crimes€of€terrorism€and€under€the€Emergency€Act,€some€casesŠ n¾  Šof€terrorism€had€been€referred€to€the€military€courts.€The€Constitutional€Court,€upon€request€by€theŠ W§  ŠState,€confirmed€that€referral€decisions€could€take€place€under€the€Emergency€Act.€€Š @ ŠĢ674.€€With€regard€to€Egypt's€non-compliance€with€the€provisions€of€article€4,€paragraph€3,€of€theŠ b ŠCovenant,€the€representative€stated€that€this€did€not€imply€bad€faith,€but€had€been€a€mere€omission.Š ūK ŠAuthorization€to€the€Egyptian€Organization€for€Human€Rights€to€exercise€its€activities€had€beenŠ ä4 Šrefused€because€there€were€already€similar€non-governmental€organizations€in€Cairo€and€Alexandria;Š Ķ Šthe€decision€had€been€appealed€before€the€courts€and€the€Committee€would€be€kept€informed€of€anyŠ ¶ Šdevelopment€in€that€connection.€€Š Ÿļ ŠĢņņRight€to€life,€treatment€of€prisoners€and€other€detainees,€and€liberty€and€security€of€personóóŠ qĮ ŠĢ675.€€With€regard€to€those€issues,€the€Committee€wished€to€know€how€often,€and€for€what€crimes,Š C“ Šthe€death€penalty€had€been€imposed€and€carried€out€since€the€consideration€of€the€initial€report,€andŠ ,| Šwhether€any€revision€of€the€law€was€being€contemplated€with€a€view€to€curtailing€the€number€ofŠ e Šoffences€currently€punishable€by€the€death€penalty.€It€also€asked€what€rules€and€regulations€governedŠ žN Šthe€use€of€weapons€by€the€police€and€security€forces;€whether€there€had€been€any€violations€of€theseŠ ē 7 Šrules€and€regulations€and,€if€so,€what€measures€had€been€taken€against€those€found€guilty€and€toŠ Š!   Šprevent€the€recurrence€of€such€acts;€what€investigations€had€been€made€into€allegations€of€torture,Š ¹" ! Šinhuman€or€degrading€treatment€or€punishment€of€persons€deprived€of€their€liberty,€and€whetherŠ ¢#ņ" Šcharges€had€been€brought€against€the€perpetrators€of€such€acts;€what€measures€had€been€taken€toŠ ‹$Ū# Šprevent€the€recurrence€of€such€acts;€what€concrete€measures€had€been€taken€by€the€authorities€toŠ t%Ä $ Šensure€the€observance€of€article€7€of€the€Covenant€and€whether€confessions€or€testimony€obtainedŠ ]&­!% Šunder€duress€could€be€used€in€court€proceedings.€The€Committee€further€asked€for€information€onŠ F'–"& Šarrangements€for€the€supervision€of€places€of€detention€and€on€procedures€for€receiving€andŠ /(#' Šinvestigating€complaints€about€conditions€and€treatment€in€such€places;€about€the€legal€prerequisitesŠ )h$( Šand€the€maximum€time-limits€for€remand€in€custody€and€pre-trial€detention€and€on€theŠ *Q%) Šimplementation€in€practice€of€these€rules,€in€particular,€how€quickly€after€arrest€a€person's€familyŠ ź*:&* Šwas€informed€and€how€quickly€after€arrest€a€person€could€contact€a€lawyer.€Information€was€alsoŠ Ó+#'+ Šrequested€on€provisions€relating€to€incommunicado€detention.€Š ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- Š676.€€In€addition,€members€of€the€Committee€observed€that€under€Egyptian€legislation€a€fairly€largeŠ ° Šnumber€of€offences€carried€the€death€penalty€and€that,€recently,€the€number€of€executions€reportedŠ ™é Šwas€steadily€increasing€in€the€country,€and€asked€the€representative€of€the€State€party€to€commentŠ ‚Ņ Šon€the€actual€situation.€They€further€wished€to€know€what€offences€were€punishable€by€death€underŠ k» Šthe€Anti-terrorism€Act€of€1992,€how€"terrorism",€as€an€aggravating€circumstance,€was€defined€forŠ T¤ Šthe€purpose€of€the€law,€whether€the€Court€of€Cassation€was€empowered€to€re-examine€the€facts€ofŠ =  Ša€case€involving€the€death€sentence€which€had€been€submitted€to€it€for€verification,€and€whetherŠ & v Šdeath€sentences€imposed€by€military€courts€were€also€subject€to€appeal€to€the€Court€of€Cassation.Š  _ ŠMembers€of€the€Committee€also€referred€to€specific€information€brought€to€their€attention€byŠ ų H Šnon-governmental€organizations€regarding€allegations€of€torture€in€detention€Ō_ŌcentresŌ_Ō€and€severeŠ į 1  Šdisciplinary€measures€within€prison€establishments,€and€requested€clarification€from€the€EgyptianŠ Ź   Šauthorities€in€that€respect€as€well€as€information€on€prosecution,€sentences€and€disciplinary€actionŠ ³  Šconcerning€police€or€prison€officers€accused€of€offences€against€prisoners€and,€in€particular,€ofŠ œģ  Štorture.€Moreover,€further€details€were€requested€with€regard€to€the€prison€complaints€procedures,Š …Õ  Šprison€inspections,€and€the€distinction€between€"precautionary"€detention€and€ordinary€pre-trialŠ n¾  Šdetention.€Members€of€the€Committee€also€asked€how€many€people€were€actually€detained€underŠ W§  Šthe€State€Security€Act€of€1980,€how€the€detainees'€right€of€access€to€their€families€was€implemented,Š @ Šwhat€was€the€substantive€legal€basis€for€imposing€incommunicado€detention€as€a€disciplinaryŠ )y Šmeasure€in€the€context€of€imprisonment€and€how€its€application€was€supervised.€Š b ŠĢ677.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€stated€that€only€the€most€serious€crimes,€such€as€premeditatedŠ ä4 Šmurder,€murder€involving€abduction€or€rape,€and€drug€trafficking€were€punishable€by€death.€UnderŠ Ķ Šthe€1992€amendment€to€the€Penal€Code,€terrorism€had€been€added€to€the€list€of€capital€offences.€InŠ ¶ Šthis€connection,€he€described€the€elaborate€procedure€which€guaranteed€that€convictions€on€capitalŠ Ÿļ Šcharges€were€not€flawed.€He€also€explained€that€the€use€of€weapons€by€the€police€and€security€forcesŠ ˆŲ Šwas€subject€to€detailed€regulations€and€that€the€practice€of€torture€was€punishable€under€EgyptianŠ qĮ Šlaw.€Allegations€of€torture€were€investigated€by€the€Department€of€Public€Prosecutions€andŠ ZŖ Šsuspected€offenders€were€referred€for€trial.€Many€such€cases€had€been€brought€before€the€courts,Š C“ Šresulting€in€some€acquittals€and€some€convictions.€Cases€were€subsequently€reviewed€byŠ ,| Šindependent€judicial€machinery.€In€addition,€places€of€detention€were€subject€to€inspection€by€theŠ e Šjudicial€authorities,€which€ensured€that€the€prescribed€conditions€were€complied€with€and€complaintsŠ žN Šprocedures€observed.€The€representative€further€referred€to€the€specific€time-limits€laid€down€forŠ ē 7 Šremand€in€custody€and€pre-trial€detention.€The€latter€could€be€extended€up€to€six€months€by€a€panelŠ Š!   Šof€three€judges€or€more€by€the€Department€of€Public€Prosecutions€in€accordance€with€the€provisionsŠ ¹" ! Šof€the€Public€Order€Act.€Suspects€had€to€be€notified€of€the€reasons€for€their€continued€detention€andŠ ¢#ņ" Šgiven€the€opportunity€of€contacting€members€of€their€families€and€their€lawyers.€Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ678.€€The€representative€added€that€apart€from€cases€of€aggravated€homicide,€drug€trafficking,€rapeŠ ]&­!% Šaccompanied€by€abduction€and€terrorism,€other€offences€were€punishable€by€the€death€penalty,Š F'–"& Šalthough€the€court€could€decide€in€Ō_ŌfavourŌ_Ō€of€an€alternative€penalty.€The€death€penalty€wasŠ /(#' Špronounced€only€if€the€judges€were€unanimous,€and€its€conformity€with€the€law€and€with€respect€forŠ )h$( Šall€judicial€guarantees€was€monitored€by€the€Court€of€Cassation.€The€representative€went€on€toŠ *Q%) ŠŌ_Ōinform€the€Committee€of€the€definition€of€terrorism€given€in€article€86€of€Act€No.€97€of€1992,€andŠ ź*:&* Šhe€specified€that€the€President€of€the€Republic,€availing€himself€of€the€special€powers€vested€in€himŠ Ó+#'+ Šby€the€Emergency€Act,€had€referred€persons€suspected€of€terrorism€to€the€military€courts.€TheseŠ ¼, (, Šcourts€respected€all€the€judicial€guarantees,€including€the€rights€of€the€defence.€Concerning€theŠ „-õ(- Šallegations€of€torture,€the€representative€drew€attention€to€the€legal€provisions€that€prohibited€andŠ ° Špunished€such€a€practice€in€Egypt,€and€provided€statistical€data€concerning€proceedings€institutedŠ ™é Šagainst€police€officials€accused€of€acts€of€torture€during€the€period€1987-1992;€the€legal€proceedingsŠ ‚Ņ Šhad€concluded€with€56€acquittals€and€13€convictions;€13€cases€were€pending.€The€representative€alsoŠ k» Šreferred€to€the€measures€taken€in€his€country€to€ensure€that€prison€conditions€complied€with€theŠ T¤ ŠStandard€Minimum€Rules€for€the€Treatment€of€Prisoners.€He€stated€that€the€incarceration€of€anŠ =  Šindividual€in€an€establishment€not€prescribed€by€the€law€constituted€an€offence.€Solitary€confinementŠ & v Šwas€a€disciplinary€measure€taken€in€the€event€of€disorders€in€the€prison€or€of€refusal€to€obey.€AnyoneŠ  _ Šarrested€under€the€Emergency€Act€enjoyed€the€same€guarantees€as€those€laid€down€in€ordinaryŠ ų H Šlegislation.€Moreover,€in€a€judgement€of€2€January€1993,€the€Supreme€Constitutional€Court€hadŠ į 1  Šdeclared€some€of€the€legal€provisions€relating€to€the€treatment€of€suspects€to€be€unconstitutional,Š Ź   Šbasing€itself€on€the€principle€of€the€presumption€of€innocence.€Š ³  ŠĢņņRight€to€a€fair€trialóó€Š …Õ  ŠĢ679.€€In€connection€with€that€issue,€the€Committee€wished€to€receive€further€information€on€theŠ W§  Šjurisdiction,€composition,€activities€of€the€State€Security€Courts€and€their€place€in€the€judiciary,€asŠ @ Šwell€as€their€relationship€with€ordinary€courts,€in€particular,€which€offences€under€ordinary€law€mayŠ )y Šbe€placed€before€the€State€Security€Courts€by€the€President€of€the€Republic.€It€also€requestedŠ b Šinformation€on€the€legal€and€administrative€provisions€governing€tenure,€dismissal€and€discipliningŠ ūK Šof€members€of€the€judiciary,€in€particular€of€members€of€the€security€courts,€as€well€as€informationŠ ä4 Šconcerning€the€organization€and€functioning€of€the€legal€profession€in€Egypt.€It€was€further€askedŠ Ķ Šwhether€a€legal€aid€or€advisory€scheme€existed€in€Egypt€and,€if€so,€how€it€operated.€Š ¶ ŠĢ680.€€In€addition,€members€of€the€Committee€sought€clarification€with€regard€to€the€provisionsŠ ˆŲ Šgoverning€judgements€ņņin€absentiaóó.€€Š qĮ ŠĢ681.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€referred€to€the€information€previouslyŠ C“ Šprovided€in€connection€with€the€application€of€the€Emergency€Act€and€stated€that€judges€wereŠ ,| Šcompletely€independent€of€the€administration.€Administration€of€the€legal€profession€was€vested€inŠ e Šbar€associations,€which€organized€the€promotion€of€lawyers€to€levels€affording€access€to€the€differentŠ žN Šcourts.€The€rules€on€legal€aid€provided€that€accused€persons€must€be€assisted€in€court€by€counsel.Š ē 7 ŠIf€the€defendant€could€not€afford€a€defence€lawyer,€counsel€would€be€appointed€by€the€court€andŠ Š!   Šremunerated€from€public€funds.€Financial€assistance€was€also€provided€for€the€conduct€of€civil€lawŠ ¹" ! Šcases.€€Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢņņNon-discrimination,€equality€of€the€sexes,€freedom€of€religion,€expression,€assembly€and€associationóó,Š t%Ä $ Šņņpolitical€rights€and€rights€of€persons€belonging€to€minoritiesóó€Š ]&­!% ŠĢ682.€€With€reference€to€those€issues,€the€Committee€requested€information€on€laws€and€practiceŠ /(#' Šgiving€effect€to€the€provisions€of€article€2,€paragraph€1,€and€article€26€of€the€Covenant.€FurtherŠ )h$( Šclarification€was€sought€on€the€statement,€contained€in€the€report,€that€the€State€undertakes€toŠ *Q%) Šreconcile€the€duties€of€women€towards€their€families€with€their€work€in€society€and€that€EgyptianŠ ź*:&* Šlegislation€protects€and€safeguards€the€civil€and€political€rights€of€women€"in€a€manner€consistentŠ Ó+#'+ Šwith€their€nature".€They€also€wished€to€receive€further€information,€including€relevant€statisticalŠ ¼, (, Šdata,€concerning€the€participation€of€women€in€the€political€and€economic€life€of€the€country,€andŠ „-õ(- Šasked€for€clarification€with€regard€to€the€conditions€under€which€a€child€may€acquire€EgyptianŠ ° Šnationality€through€its€mother€in€the€event€she€was€married€to€a€€foreigner.€Moreover,€informationŠ ™é Šwas€requested€on€the€law€and€practice€relating€to€the€employment€of€minors;€as€well€as€on€the€lawŠ ‚Ņ Šand€practice€relating€to€permissible€interference€with€the€right€to€privacy.€The€Committee€furtherŠ k» Šasked€for€comments€on€the€main€differences,€if€any,€in€the€status€of€Islam€and€other€religiousŠ T¤ Šdenominations;€in€particular,€whether€there€had€been€any€cases€of€discrimination€againstŠ =  Šnon-Muslims€and,€if€so,€what€measures€had€been€taken€to€prevent€the€recurrence€of€such€acts.€It€alsoŠ & v Šasked€what€controls€were€exercised€on€the€freedom€of€the€press€and€mass€media;€what€were€theŠ  _ Šrestrictions€on€the€exercise€of€freedom€of€expression€as€guaranteed€by€article€19€of€the€Covenant;Š ų H Šand€what€were€the€laws€and€practice€concerning€public€meetings.€Information€was€sought€on€theŠ į 1  Šexistence€and€functioning€of€associations€and€trade€unions€and€on€measures€that€had€been€taken€byŠ Ź   Šthe€authorities€to€implement€article€27€of€the€€Covenant.€Š ³  ŠĢ683.€€Members€of€the€Committee€also€asked€what€were€the€significant€reasons€that€allowed€theŠ …Õ  ŠMinister€of€the€Interior€to€refuse€to€issue€or€to€renew€a€passport,€whether€the€deportation€orderŠ n¾  Šmentioned€in€Act€No.€89€of€1960€could€give€rise€to€an€appeal,€and€what€was€the€significance€of€theŠ W§  Šprovision€in€Act€No.€20€of€1936€whereby€the€Council€of€Ministers€could€prohibit€the€disseminationŠ @ Šin€Egypt€of€publications€that€excited€passions.€Information€was€also€requested€on€the€legislativeŠ )y Šprovisions€regulating€the€setting€up€of€associations€and€the€trade€union€system,€as€well€as€on€thoseŠ b Šconcerning€the€banning€of€associations€that€might€constitute€a€danger€to€public€order,€and€of€politicalŠ ūK Šparties€contrary€to€the€objectives€of€Islam€and€of€socialism.€Members€of€the€Committee€noted€thatŠ ä4 Šno€information€appeared€in€the€report€on€the€minorities€that€existed€in€Egypt€since,€according€to€theŠ Ķ ŠGovernment,€the€minorities€formed€part€of€Egyptian€society.€They€pointed€out€in€that€regard€thatŠ ¶ Šarticle€27€of€the€Covenant€contained€the€idea€that€measures€should€be€taken€to€protect€the€right€ofŠ Ÿļ Špersons€belonging€to€these€minorities€to€enjoy€their€own€culture,€to€practise€their€own€religion€andŠ ˆŲ Što€use€their€own€language,€even€when€they€enjoyed€the€same€rights€as€the€other€citizens.€TheyŠ qĮ Štherefore€asked€whether€measures€had€been€taken€by€the€State,€in€particular,€to€preventŠ ZŖ Šdiscrimination€against€the€Copts€and€the€Baha'is.€With€regard€to€the€latter,€the€members€of€theŠ C“ ŠCommittee€stressed€that€they€were€entitled€to€the€protection€provided€by€article€18€of€the€CovenantŠ ,| Šand€they€asked€why€their€marriages€were€not€recognized€and€whether€the€children€born€of€Baha'iŠ e Šparents€could€be€registered€in€the€same€way€as€those€born€of€Muslim€parents.€Further,€members€ofŠ žN Šthe€Committee€wished€to€know€why€article€40€of€the€Constitution,€as€well€as€the€Penal€Code,€omittedŠ ē 7 Ša€number€of€grounds€of€discrimination€prohibited€by€the€Covenant,€the€extent€to€which€womenŠ Š!   Šparticipated€in€the€political€life€of€the€country,€and€how€the€Egyptian€Government€reconciled€theŠ ¹" ! Šlaws€that€restricted€the€enjoyment€of€political€rights€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€TheŠ ¢#ņ" Šmembers€of€the€Committee€noted€that€measures€had€been€taken€in€Egypt€to€guarantee€the€freedomŠ ‹$Ū# Što€have€a€religion€whereas€no€measure€had€been€taken€to€guarantee€the€freedom€to€practise€one'sŠ t%Ä $ Šreligion.€Further,€Baha'is€were€considered€to€be€apostates,€and€apostasy€was€considered€in€Egypt€asŠ ]&­!% Ša€breach€of€public€order;€in€that€connection,€they€hoped€that€the€Egyptian€authorities€would€considerŠ F'–"& Šamending€the€legislation€concerning€the€various€aspects€of€the€freedom€of€religion,€in€Ō_ŌconformityŠ /(#' Šwith€article€18€of€the€Covenant€and€with€the€new€general€comment€on€this€article€which€theŠ )h$( ŠCommittee€was€in€the€process€of€finalizing.€Š *Q%) ŠĢ684.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€referred€to€the€Egyptian€legislative€provisions€concerningŠ Ó+#'+ Šnon-discrimination€and€the€equality€of€the€sexes.€He€indicated€that€the€State€provided€specialŠ ¼, (, Šprotection€to€the€institution€of€the€family,€and€that€it€had€an€obligation€to€guarantee€women€ways€andŠ „-õ(- Šmeans€of€reconciling€their€duties€towards€their€families€and€their€work€in€society,€by€openingŠ ° Šmother-and-child-care€Ō_ŌcentresŌ_Ō.€Moreover,€in€Egypt,€women€had€the€same€political,€social€andŠ ™é Šeconomic€rights€as€men.€As€far€as€the€nationality€of€children€was€concerned,€he€explained€thatŠ ‚Ņ ŠEgyptian€law€was€based€on€the€doctrine€of€ņņŌ_ŌjusŌ_Ōóó€ņņsanguinisóó€as€well€as€on€that€of€ņņŌ_ŌjusŌ_Ō€solióó.€In€particular,Š k» Šan€Egyptian€woman€who€married€a€foreigner€was€required€to€apply€for€authorization€to€acquire€hisŠ T¤ Šnationality;€she€was€permitted€to€retain€her€own.€This€legislation€was€under€review€and€there€wasŠ =  Ša€bill€in€existence€to€enable€the€mother€to€transmit€her€nationality€to€her€children.€Š & v ŠĢ685.€€The€representative€also€stated€that,€in€conformity€with€Egyptian€law,€the€minimum€age€for€theŠ ų H Šemployment€of€minors€was€15€years€of€age,€that€private€life€was€protected€by€the€same€guaranteesŠ į 1  Šas€the€right€not€to€be€subjected€to€torture,€that€guarantees€were€provided€for€the€freedom€of€allŠ Ź   Šreligions,€without€discrimination,€apart€from€issues€related€to€the€family€and€marriage,€which€wereŠ ³  Šregulated€by€the€precepts€of€each€religion.€He€went€on€to€list€the€guarantees€for€and€restrictions€onŠ œģ  Šthe€press€and€media€in€Egypt€provided€under€an€amendment€to€the€Constitution€which€entered€intoŠ …Õ  Šforce€in€1980.€He€pointed€out€that€rights€and€freedoms€in€that€area€could€give€rise€to€examinationŠ n¾  Šby€the€administrative€authorities,€in€so€far€as€they€had€to€issue€authorizations.€In€respect€of€theŠ W§  Šexistence€of€associations€and€trade€unions€in€Egypt,€he€referred€to€Act€No.€100€of€1992€concerningŠ @ Šelections€to€the€various€executive€committees€of€trade€unions.€With€regard€to€the€implementationŠ )y Šof€article€27€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€stated€that€Egypt€was€not€acquainted€with€theŠ b Šphenomenon€of€minorities,€and€that€all€Egyptians€were€equal€before€the€law.€Š ūK ŠĢ686.€€In€addition,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€stated€that€limitations€concerning€the€right€toŠ Ķ Šleave€the€country€and€to€return€to€it€were€provided€for€by€the€law.€Recourse€to€the€administrativeŠ ¶ Šcourts€was€available€in€cases€of€arbitrary€decisions.€He€also€pointed€out€that€a€foreigner€subjectedŠ Ÿļ Što€a€deportation€order€had€the€right€to€resort€to€the€courts€and€to€receive€compensation€whereŠ ˆŲ Šappropriate;€the€right€of€the€Council€of€Ministers€to€prohibit€publication€of€foreign€materials€of€aŠ qĮ Šsalacious€nature,€was€subject€to€appeal;€the€formation€of€trade€unions€was€subject€to€the€sameŠ ZŖ Šcontrols€as€were€provided€for€in€the€Covenant€with€a€view€to€safeguarding€public€order€and€nationalŠ C“ Šsecurity;€the€provisions€governing€the€establishment€of€political€parties€were€administrativeŠ ,| Šprocedures€and€were€subject€to€appeal;€the€setting€up€of€political€parties€on€a€religious,€class€orŠ e Šdiscriminatory€basis€was€prohibited;€women€enjoyed€equal€rights€with€regard€to€elections,Š žN Šnomination€to€public€office€and€decision-making.€Š ē 7 ŠĢ687.€€The€representative€further€stated€that€it€was€not€a€criminal€offence€to€change€one's€religion,Š ¹" ! Šprovided€that€there€was€no€conflict€with€the€provisions€of€the€Penal€Code€designed€to€protectŠ ¢#ņ" Šdivinely€revealed€religions€and€their€practices.€Freedom€of€religion€existed€in€Egypt€to€the€extentŠ ‹$Ū# Šthat€it€did€not€encroach€on€other€religions€and€faiths.€Š t%Ä $ ŠĢņņConcluding€observations€by€individual€membersóó€Š F'–"& ŠĢ688.€€Members€of€the€Committee€welcomed€the€report€of€Egypt€and€expressed€their€thanks€to€theŠ )h$( Šrepresentatives€of€the€State€party€for€their€cooperation€and€their€efforts€in€replying€to€the€manyŠ *Q%) Šquestions€raised€during€the€consideration€of€the€report.€They€were€of€the€view€that€the€renewedŠ ź*:&* Šdialogue€with€the€State€party€had€been€useful€and€had€helped€the€Committee€to€evaluate€the€situationŠ Ó+#'+ Šin€Egypt,€including€the€compatibility€of€domestic€legislation€with€the€Covenant€as€well€as€factorsŠ ¼, (, Šand€difficulties€preventing€the€implementation€of€the€Covenant€in€Egypt.€Š „-õ(- Ї689.€€Members€of€the€Committee€regretted,€however,€that€the€report€had€been€submitted€four€yearsŠ ° Šbehind€schedule,€that€it€had€not€been€drawn€up€in€accordance€with€its€guidelines€for€the€presentationŠ ™é Šof€State€party€reports€and€that€the€information€contained€in€the€report€had€not€been€organizedŠ ‚Ņ Šfollowing€the€sequence€of€the€articles€of€the€Covenant.€While€the€report€provided€comprehensiveŠ k» Šinformation€on€Egyptian€legislation€and€a€useful€comparative€analysis€of€the€legislation€in€respectŠ T¤ Šof€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant,€it€did€not€contain€information€on€practice€relating€to€theŠ =  Šimplementation€of€the€Covenant€and€the€actual€enjoyment€of€human€rights€in€Egypt€or€difficultiesŠ & v Šin€that€regard.€Consequently,€it€was€extremely€difficult€for€the€Committee€to€arrive€at€a€fairŠ  _ Šassessment€of€the€really€important€issues.€Members€of€the€Committee€felt€that€statistical€informationŠ ų H Šwould€have€been€particularly€useful€with€regard€to€certain€important€issues€such€as€the€impositionŠ į 1  Šof€the€death€penalty,€the€allegations€of€torture,€the€prosecution€and€actual€punishment€of€theŠ Ź   Šperpetrators€of€acts€of€torture,€and€the€participation€of€women€in€the€conduct€of€public€affairs.€Š ³  ŠĢ690.€€Members€of€the€Committee€noted€that€a€state€of€emergency€has€been€in€force€in€Egypt€withoutŠ …Õ  Šinterruption€since€1981€and€regretted€that€Egypt€had€not€informed€the€other€States€parties€to€theŠ n¾  ŠCovenant,€through€the€Secretary-General,€of€the€provisions€from€which€it€had€derogated€and€of€theŠ W§  Šreasons€by€which€it€was€actuated,€as€specifically€required€by€article€4,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Covenant.Š @ ŠThey€also€observed€that€the€state€of€emergency€in€Egypt€seemed€to€be€a€permanent€rather€than€anŠ )y Šexceptional€situation.€Moreover,€certain€powers€granted€to€the€President€of€the€Republic€under€theŠ b ŠEmergency€Act€were€subject€of€concern,€such€as€the€ratification€of€judgements€handed€down€by€stateŠ ūK Šsecurity€(emergency)€courts,€which€may€influence€the€independence€of€the€judiciary,€or€theŠ ä4 Špossibility€of€referring€judicial€cases€to€military€courts.€In€this€connection,€members€of€theŠ Ķ ŠCommittee€considered€it€necessary€to€have€a€clear€indication€of€the€human€rights€affected€by€theŠ ¶ Šstate€of€emergency€and€the€extent€to€which€they€had€been€affected.€Š Ÿļ ŠĢ691.€€Members€of€the€Committee€also€expressed€concern€at€the€very€strict€measures€taken€by€theŠ qĮ ŠEgyptian€Government€to€combat€terrorism€in€the€country.€They€pointed€out€that€measures€to€combatŠ ZŖ Šterrorism€should€not€prejudice€the€enjoyment€of€fundamental€rights€enshrined€in€the€Covenant,Š C“ Šparticularly,€its€articles€6,€7€and€9.€Law€No.€97€of€1992,€adopted€to€combat€terrorism,€containedŠ ,| Šprovisions€which€were€contrary€to€articles€6€and€15€of€the€Covenant.€The€definition€of€terrorismŠ e Šcontained€in€the€law€appeared€to€be€very€broad€and€should€therefore€be€reviewed€by€the€EgyptianŠ žN Šauthorities,€especially€in€view€of€the€fact€that€the€anti-terrorism€law€had€enlarged€the€number€ofŠ ē 7 Šoffences€punishable€with€the€death€penalty.€Š Š!   ŠĢ692.€€Furthermore,€members€of€the€Committee€noted€that€the€long€duration€and€conditions€of€policeŠ ¢#ņ" Šcustody€and€administrative€detention€in€Egypt€exposed€accused€persons€to€torture€and€ill-treatmentŠ ‹$Ū# Šby€security€forces,€as€demonstrated€by€numerous€allegations€reported€by€reliable€non-governmentalŠ t%Ä $ Šsources€of€information.€In€this€connection,€they€regretted€that€Egypt€did€not€provide€adequateŠ ]&­!% ŠŌ_Ōinformation€in€the€body€of€the€report€on€investigations€undertaken€and€penalties€meted€out€toŠ F'–"& Šperpetrators€of€torture€and€on€compensation€and€medical€rehabilitation€of€victims€of€torture.€Š /(#' ŠĢ693.€€They€also€expressed€the€view€that€the€Egyptian€authorities€should€establish€a€closer€andŠ *Q%) Šconstructive€dialogue€with€non-governmental€organizations€active€in€the€field€of€human€rights,Š ź*:&* Šelaborate€training€programmes€on€human€rights€specifically€addressed€to€public€officials,€and€payŠ Ó+#'+ Šparticular€attention€to€the€protection€of€the€rights€of€detainees.€Measures€were€also€necessary€toŠ ¼, (, Šguarantee€the€rule€of€impartiality€and€the€right€of€appeal€in€accordance€with€article€14€of€theŠ „-õ(- ŠCovenant.€Š ° ŠĢ694.€€Members€of€the€Committee€observed€that€there€were€still€many€instances€of€discriminationŠ ‚Ņ Šagainst€women€in€Egypt€which€were€contrary€to€article€3€of€the€Covenant.€In€addition,€theyŠ k» Šexpressed€particular€concern€at€the€restrictive€legal€provisions€existing€in€Egypt€with€regard€toŠ T¤ Šfreedom€of€thought,€conscience,€religion,€assembly€and€association€which€affected€various€religiousŠ =  Šcommunities€or€sects,€such€as€the€Baha'is.€Equally,€general€concern€was€expressed€at€the€denial€byŠ & v Šthe€Egyptian€authorities€of€the€existence€in€the€country€of€ethnic,€religious€or€linguistic€minorities.Š  _ ŠPointing€out€in€this€connection€that€to€deny€the€existence€of€minorities€on€the€grounds€that€personsŠ ų H Šbelonging€to€them€enjoyed€all€the€rights€to€which€all€citizens€of€the€country€were€entitled,€was€toŠ į 1  Šconfuse€two€entirely€separate€issues.€Š Ź   ŠĢ695.€€Members€of€the€Committee€expressed€the€view€that€Egypt€should€examine€carefully€theŠ œģ  Šcomments€and€observations€made€during€the€consideration€of€Egypt's€second€periodic€report€in€orderŠ …Õ  Što€study€and€adopt€legal€and€practical€measures€ensuring€full€and€effective€implementation€of€all€theŠ n¾  Šprovisions€of€the€Covenant.€In€addition,€they€hoped€that€the€many€questions€and€requests€forŠ W§  Šinformation€which€had€remained€unanswered€during€the€debate€would€find€exhaustive€replies€in€theŠ @ Šnext€periodic€report.€Š )y ŠĢ696.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€assured€the€members€of€the€Committee€that€his€delegationŠ ūK Šhad€taken€due€note€of€their€remarks€which€would€be€studied€in€detail.€Every€effort€would€be€madeŠ ä4 Što€ensure€that€the€next€report€made€specific€reference€to€the€practical€application€of€the€provisionsŠ Ķ Šof€the€Covenant€and€would€be€presented€in€accordance€with€the€guidelines€established€by€theŠ ¶ ŠCommittee.€Statistics,€particularly€regarding€the€application€of€the€death€penalty,€would€also€beŠ Ÿļ Šprovided€in€due€course.€Š ˆŲ ŠĢ697.€€In€concluding€the€consideration€of€the€second€periodic€report€of€Egypt,€the€Chairman€thankedŠ ZŖ Šthe€Egyptian€delegation€for€its€efforts€to€respond€to€the€many€difficult€questions€which€had€beenŠ C“ Šraised€and€stressed€the€spirit€of€cooperation€which€had€animated€the€Committee€in€its€dialogue€withŠ ,| Šthe€Egyptian€representatives.€Š e ŠĢņņComments€of€the€Committeeóó€Š ē 7 ŠĢ698.€€At€its€1260th€meeting€(forty-eighth€session),€held€on€29€July€1993,€the€Committee€adopted€theŠ ¹" ! Šfollowing€comments.€Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢņņIntroduction€óóŠ t%Ä $ ŠĢ699.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€report€of€Egypt€and€the€willingness€of€the€Government€of€theŠ F'–"& ŠState€party€to€continue€the€dialogue€with€the€Committee€reflected€by€the€high€level€of€the€delegation.Š /(#' ŠIt€regrets,€however,€that€the€report€has€been€submitted€four€years€behind€schedule,€that€it€has€notŠ )h$( Šbeen€drawn€up€in€accordance€with€its€guidelines€for€the€presentation€of€State€party€reportsŠ *Q%) Š(CCPR/C/20/Rev.1)€and€that€the€information€contained€in€the€body€of€the€report€has€not€beenŠ ź*:&* Šorganized€following€the€sequence€of€the€articles€of€the€Covenant.€While€the€report€providesŠ Ó+#'+ Šcomprehensive€information€on€the€legislation€of€Egypt€and€has€an€annex€attached€to€it€whichŠ ¼, (, Šcontains€a€very€useful€comparative€analysis€of€the€legislation€in€respect€of€the€provisions€of€theŠ „-õ(- ŠCovenant,€it€provides€very€little€information€on€practice€relating€to€the€implementation€of€theŠ ° ŠCovenant€and€the€actual€enjoyment€of€human€rights€in€Egypt€or€difficulties€negatively€affecting€it.Š ™é ŠThe€Committee€feels€that€further€information,€especially€statistics,€would€have€been€particularlyŠ ‚Ņ Šuseful€with€regard€to€certain€important€issues€such€as€the€imposition€of€the€death€penalty,Š k» Šinvestigations€of€allegations€of€torture,€the€prosecution€and€actual€punishment€of€the€perpetrators€ofŠ T¤ Šacts€of€torture,€maltreatment€and€abuse€of€firearms.€Statistics€on€the€participation€of€women€in€theŠ =  Šconduct€of€public€affairs€would€also€have€been€appreciated.€Š & v ŠĢ700.€€The€Committee€thanks€the€State€party€for€the€core€document€(HRI/CORE/1/Add.19)€drawnŠ ų H Šup€in€accordance€with€the€consolidated€guidelines€for€the€initial€part€of€State€party€reports€to€beŠ į 1  Šsubmitted€under€the€various€international€human€rights€instruments€(HRI/1991/1).€Š Ź   ŠĢ701.€€The€Committee€also€pays€tribute€to€the€effort€of€the€delegation€of€Egypt€to€provide€informationŠ œģ  Šand€explanations€useful€for€a€better€understanding€of€the€situation€with€regard€to€the€implementationŠ …Õ  Šof€the€Covenant€in€the€State€party.€The€Committee€takes€note€of€the€information€on€the€status€of€theŠ n¾  ŠCovenant€in€Egyptian€legislation€even€though€certain€clarifications€are€still€needed€with€regard€toŠ W§  Šthe€harmonization€of€domestic€legislation€with€the€Covenant,€relating€in€particular€to€the€state€ofŠ @ Šemergency€and€certain€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€Š )y ŠĢ702.€€The€delegation€and€the€Permanent€Mission€of€Egypt€to€the€United€Nations€Office€at€GenevaŠ ūK Šinformed€the€Committee€about€the€content€of€the€Presidential€Decree€of€9€December€1981€on€theŠ ä4 Šratification€by€Egypt€of€the€Covenant.€The€Committee€regrets€that€it€had€no€opportunity€to€discussŠ Ķ Šwith€the€delegation€the€exact€meaning€of€the€Decree,€which€was€belatedly€brought€to€its€attention.€Š ¶ ŠĢņņPositive€aspects€óóŠ ˆŲ ŠĢ703.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€renewed€positive€dialogue€with€the€State€party,€which€has€helpedŠ ZŖ Šthe€Committee€to€evaluate€the€situation€in€Egypt,€including€compatibility€of€domestic€legislationŠ C“ Šwith€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€as€well€as€factors€and€difficulties€affecting€the€implementationŠ ,| Šof€the€Covenant€in€Egypt.€The€Committee€acknowledges€the€State€party's€firm€commitment€to€theŠ e Šprinciples€of€the€rule€of€law€and€democracy.€Š žN ŠĢņņFactors€and€difficulties€impeding€the€application€of€the€Covenantóó€Š Š!   ŠĢ704.€€The€Committee€notes€that€the€state€of€emergency€in€force€in€Egypt€without€interruption€sinceŠ ¢#ņ" Š1981€constitutes€one€of€the€main€difficulties€impeding€the€full€implementation€of€the€Covenant€byŠ ‹$Ū# Šthe€State€party.€In€June€1991,€the€state€of€emergency€was€extended€until€June€1994.€In€Ō_ŌthisŠ t%Ä $ Šconnection,€the€Committee€regrets€that€Egypt€has€not€informed€the€other€States€parties€to€theŠ ]&­!% ŠCovenant,€through€the€Secretary-General,€of€the€provisions€from€which€it€has€derogated€and€of€theŠ F'–"& Šreasons€by€which€it€was€actuated,€as€specifically€required€by€article€4,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Covenant.Š /(#' ŠThe€delegation,€however,€assured€the€Committee€that€this€had€happened€quite€inadvertently.€Š )h$( ŠĢņņPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóó€Š ź*:&* Š€Ģ705.€€The€Committee€expresses€concern€at€the€many€severe€measures€taken€by€the€EgyptianŠ ¼, (, ŠGovernment€to€combat€terrorism€in€the€country.€It€is€aware€that€the€increasing€number€of€terroristŠ „-õ(- Šacts€especially€in€the€last€12€months€have€created€a€dramatic€situation€in€the€country.€However,Š ° Šrecognizing€that€the€Government€has€a€duty€to€combat€terrorism,€the€Committee€considers€that€theŠ ™é Šmeasures€taken€to€do€so€should€not€prejudice€the€enjoyment€of€the€fundamental€rights€enshrined€inŠ ‚Ņ Šthe€Covenant,€in€particular,€its€articles€6,€7€and€9.€The€Committee€is€particularly€disturbed€by€theŠ k» Šadoption€in€1992€of€law€No.€97€on€terrorism,€which€contains€provisions€contrary€to€articles€6€andŠ T¤ Š15€of€the€Covenant.€The€definition€of€terrorism€contained€in€that€law€is€so€broad€that€it€encompassesŠ =  Ša€wide€range€of€acts€of€differing€gravity.€The€Committee€is€of€the€opinion€that€the€definition€inŠ & v Šquestion€should€be€reviewed€by€the€Egyptian€authorities€and€stated€much€more€precisely,€especiallyŠ  _ Šin€view€of€the€fact€that€it€enlarges€the€number€of€offences€which€are€punishable€with€the€deathŠ ų H Špenalty.€The€Committee€underscores€that€according€to€article€6,€paragraph€2€of€the€Covenant,€onlyŠ į 1  Šthe€most€serious€crimes€may€lead€to€death€penalty.€Š Ź   ŠĢ706.€€The€Committee€also€expresses€concern€at€the€long€duration€of€the€state€of€emergency€in€Egypt.Š œģ  ŠMoreover,€under€the€Emergency€Act,€the€President€of€the€Republic€is€entitled€to€refer€cases€to€theŠ …Õ  ŠState€security€courts,€to€ratify€judgements€and€to€pardon.€The€President's€role€as€both€part€of€theŠ n¾  Šexecutive€and€part€of€the€judiciary€system€is€noted€with€concern€by€the€Committee,€notwithstandingŠ W§  Šthat€in€the€matter€of€appeal€it€was€explained€that€it€would€act€only€to€reduce€sentences.€€On€the€otherŠ @ Šhand,€military€courts€should€not€have€the€faculty€to€try€cases€which€do€not€refer€to€offencesŠ )y Šcommitted€by€members€of€the€armed€forces€in€the€course€of€their€duties.€Š b ŠĢ707.€€In€addition,€concern€is€expressed€by€the€Committee€about€the€duration€and€conditions€of€policeŠ ä4 Šcustody€and€administrative€detention€in€Egypt€which€are€likely€to€expose€accused€persons€to€tortureŠ Ķ Šand€ill-treatment€by€the€police€and€security€forces,€as€demonstrated€by€numerous€allegations€reportedŠ ¶ Šby€reliable€non-governmental€sources€of€information.€€In€this€connection,€the€Committee€regrets€thatŠ Ÿļ ŠEgypt€did€not€provide€it€with€adequate€information€on€investigations€made€and€penalties€applied€toŠ ˆŲ Šperpetrators€of€torture€and€on€compensation€and€medical€rehabilitation€of€victims€of€torture,€thoughŠ qĮ Šsome€additional€information€was€given€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party€in€his€final€remarks.€Š ZŖ ŠĢ708.€€The€Committee€also€expresses€concern€about€the€multitude€of€special€courts€in€Egypt.€FromŠ ,| Šthe€point€of€view€of€legal€consistency€in€the€judicial€procedure€and€procedural€guarantees€it€isŠ e Šimportant€that€special€courts€exist€as€an€exceptional€measure,€if€at€all.€Š žN ŠĢ709.€€Furthermore,€the€Committee€is€worried€about€restrictive€legal€provisions€existing€in€Egypt€withŠ Š!   Šregard€to€freedom€of€thought,€conscience,€religion,€assembly€and€association.€Restrictions€not€inŠ ¹" ! Šconformity€with€article€18€of€the€Covenant€regarding€various€religious€communities€or€sects,€suchŠ ¢#ņ" Šas€Ō_ŌBahaiŌ_Ō's,€are€a€matter€of€particular€concern.€Equally,€general€concern€is€expressed€by€theŠ ‹$Ū# ŠCommittee€at€the€denial€by€the€Egyptian€authorities€of€the€existence€in€the€country€of€religious€orŠ t%Ä $ Šother€minorities€as€well€as€the€existence€in€certain€laws€of€provisions€concerning€penalties€ofŠ ]&­!% Šimprisonment€with€compulsory€labour€for€political€offences.€There€are,€in€addition,€many€areasŠ F'–"& Šwhere€the€law€discriminates€against€women€and€restricts€them€in€the€equal€enjoyment€of€rights€andŠ /(#' Šfreedoms.€Š )h$( ŠĢņņSuggestions€and€recommendationsóó€Š ź*:&* ŠĢ710.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€should€examine€carefully€the€comments€andŠ ¼, (, Šthe€observations€it€has€made€during€the€consideration€of€Egypt's€second€periodic€report€in€order€toŠ „-õ(- Šconsider€and€adopt€legal€and€practical€measures€to€ensure€effective€implementation€of€all€theŠ ° Šprovisions€of€the€Covenant.€In€addition,€many€questions€and€requests€for€information€which€haveŠ ™é Šremained€unanswered€during€the€debate€should€find€exhaustive€replies€in€the€next€periodic€report.Š ‚Ņ ŠThe€Committee€also€recommends€that€the€Egyptian€authorities€should€establish€a€closer€andŠ k» Šconstructive€dialogue€with€non-governmental€organizations€active€in€the€field€of€human€rights,€andŠ T¤ Šelaborate€training€programmes€on€human€rights€specifically€addressed€to€public€officials.€TheŠ =  ŠCommittee€recommends€that€the€State€party€bring€its€legislation€into€conformity€with€the€provisionsŠ & v Šof€article€6€of€the€Covenant€and,€in€particular,€limit€the€number€of€crimes€punishable€by€the€deathŠ  _ Špenalty.€The€Committee€also€recommends€that€the€State€party€pay€particular€attention€to€theŠ ų H Šprotection€of€the€rights€of€those€who€are€arrested€or€detained.€Š į 1  ŠÓ•ÓŠ  Ź   ŠŌUKUS.,ŌÓ  Óņ ņó óŌUS.,UK.,č"ŌŌCEUS.,ŌĢņ ņŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō€A/58/40€(2003)ó óŠ ™é ŠĢ77.€€ņņEgyptóóŠ l¼ ŠĢ(1)€€The€Committee€considered€the€third€and€fourth€periodic€reports€of€Egypt,Š > Ž Š(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/Ō_ŌEGYŌ_Ō/2001/3)€at€its€2048th€and€2049th€meetings,€held€on€17€and€18€October€2002Š ' w Š(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/SR.2048€and€Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/SR.2049),€and€adopted€the€following€concluding€observations€atŠ  ` Šits€2067th€meeting€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/SR.2067)€on€31€October€2002.Š ł I ŠĢņņIntroductionóóŠ Ė   ŠĢ(2)€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€third€and€fourth€periodic€reports€of€Egypt,€although€it€regrets€theŠ ķ  Šseven„year€delay€in€the€submission€of€the€third€periodic€report€and€points€out€that€conflating€twoŠ †Ö  Šreports€into€one€should€be€avoided€in€the€future.€€It€is€nevertheless€pleased€to€have€been€able€toŠ oæ  Šresume€a€dialogue€with€the€State€party,€since€eight€years€have€passed€since€its€consideration€of€theŠ XØ  Šprevious€report.€€It€notes€that€the€report€contains€useful€information€about€domestic€legislationŠ A‘ Šrelating€to€the€implementation€of€the€Covenant€and€on€developments€in€some€legal€and€institutionalŠ *z Šfields€since€the€second€periodic€report€was€considered.€€It€regrets,€however,€the€lack€of€informationŠ c Šon€case€law€and€practical€aspects€of€implementing€the€Covenant.€€It€does€welcome€the€willingnessŠ üL Što€cooperate€voiced€by€the€Egyptian€delegation€and,€in€particular,€the€transmission,€at€theŠ å5 ŠCommitteeššs€request,€of€written€replies€dated€22€October€2002€to€oral€questions€raised€during€theŠ Ī Šexamination€of€the€report.Š · ŠĢņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ ‰Ł ŠĢ(3)€The€Committee€welcomes€some€initiatives€taken€by€the€State€party€in€recent€years€as€regardsŠ [« Šhuman€rights,€in€particular€the€creation€of€human€rights€divisions€within€the€ministries€of€justice€andŠ D” Šforeign€affairs€and€the€introduction€of€human€rights€training€and€awareness€programmes€at€schoolsŠ -} Šand€universities€for€law„enforcers€and€society€at€large.€€It€also€notes€some€improvements€in€the€statusŠ f Šof€women€and€welcomes€the€creation€of€the€National€Council€for€Women€and€the€introduction€ofŠ ’O Šlegal€reforms,€in€particular€the€passage€of€Act€No.€1€of€2000,€allowing€women€to€end€marriagesŠ č 8 Šunilaterally,€and€Act€No.€14€of€1999,€revoking€an€earlier€law€which€offered€the€accused€theŠ Ń!!  Šopportunity€to€escape€liability€for€abduction€and€rape€if€he€married€the€victim.Š ŗ" ! ŠĢņņPrincipal€subjects€of€concern€and€recommendationsóóŠ Œ$Ü# ŠĢ(4)€€The€Committee€regrets€the€lack€of€clarity€surrounding€the€question€of€the€legal€standing€of€theŠ ^&®!% ŠCovenant€in€relation€to€domestic€law€and€the€attendant€consequences.Š G'—"& ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€should€ensure€that€its€legislation€gives€full€effect€to€the€rights€recognized€inŠ )i$( Šthe€Covenant€and€that€effective€remedies€are€available€for€the€exercise€of€those€rights.Š*R%)(#(# ŠĢ(5)€€While€observing€that€the€State€party€considers€the€provisions€of€the€Islamic€Ō_ŌShariahŌ_Ō€to€beŠ Ō+$'+ Šcompatible€with€the€Covenant,€the€Committee€notes€the€general€and€ambiguous€nature€of€theŠ ½, (, Šdeclaration€made€by€the€State€party€upon€ratifying€the€Covenant.Š ¦-ö(- ŠŌ_Ō‡ą0  ąThe€State€party€should€either€clarify€the€scope€of€its€declaration€or€withdraw€it.а(#(# ŠĢ(6)€€The€Committee€is€disturbed€by€the€fact€that€the€state€of€emergency€proclaimed€by€Egypt€in€1981Š ‚Ņ Šis€still€in€effect,€meaning€that€the€State€party€has€been€in€a€semi„permanent€state€of€emergency€everŠ k» Šsince.Š T¤ ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€should€consider€reviewing€the€need€to€maintain€the€state€of€emergency.Š& v(#(# ŠĢ(7)€€While€welcoming€the€steps€taken€by€the€authorities€in€recent€years€to€encourage€participationŠ ų H Šby€women€in€public€life€(in€the€diplomatic€service,€for€example),€the€Committee€notes€that€womenŠ į 1  Šare€underrepresented€in€most€areas€of€the€public€sector€(for€instance,€the€magistrature)€and€in€theŠ Ź   Šprivate€sector€(articles€3€and€26€of€the€Covenant).Š ³  ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€is€encouraged€to€step€up€its€efforts€to€secure€greater€participation€by€womenŠ …Õ  Šat€all€levels€of€society€and€the€State,€including€decision„making€positions,€inter€alia€byŠ n¾  Šensuring€that€women€in€rural€areas€learn€to€read€and€write.ŠW§ (#(# ŠĢ(8)€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€women€seeking€divorce€through€unilateral€repudiationŠ )y Šby€virtue€of€Act€No.€1€of€2000€must€forgo€their€rights€to€financial€support€and,€in€particular,€to€theirŠ b Šdowries€(articles€3€and€26€of€the€Covenant).Š ūK ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€should€review€its€legislation€so€as€to€eliminate€financial€discriminationŠ Ķ Šagainst€women.ж(#(# ŠĢ(9)€€The€Committee€notes€the€discriminatory€nature€of€some€provisions€in€the€Penal€Code,€which€doŠ ˆŲ Šnot€treat€men€and€women€equally€in€matters€of€adultery€(articles€3€and€26€of€the€Covenant).Š qĮ ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€should€review€its€discriminatory€penal€provisions€in€order€to€conform€toŠ C“ Šarticles€3€and€26€of€the€Covenant.Š,|(#(# ŠĢ(10)€€The€Committee€draws€attention€to€the€discrimination€affecting€women€as€regards€transmissionŠ žN Šof€nationality€to€their€children€when€their€spouses€are€not€Egyptian€and€as€regards€the€rulesŠ ē 7 Šgoverning€inheritance€(articles€3€and€26€of€the€Covenant).Š Š!   ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€is€encouraged€to€bring€its€current€inquiries€to€a€conclusion€and€do€away€withŠ ¢#ņ" Šall€discrimination€between€men€and€women€in€its€domestic€legislation.Š‹$Ū#(#(# ŠĢ(11)€€While€taking€note€of€the€action€and€awareness€campaigns€against€female€genital€mutilation,Š ]&­!% Šthe€Committee€notes€that€this€practice€still€continues€(article€7€of€the€Covenant).Š F'–"& ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€should€eradicate€the€practice€of€female€genital€mutilation.Š)h$((#(# ŠĢ(12)€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€the€very€large€number€of€offences€which,€under€EgyptianŠ ź*:&* Šlaw,€are€punishable€by€the€death€penalty,€and€the€incompatibility€of€certain€of€those€offences€withŠ Ó+#'+ Šarticle€6,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant.Š ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- Šą0  ąThe€State€party€should€review€the€question€of€the€death€penalty€in€the€light€of€the€provisionsŠ ° Šof€article€6€of€the€Covenant.€€The€State€party€is€also€asked€to€provide€the€Committee€withŠ ™é Šdetailed€information€on€the€number€of€offences€which€carry€the€death€penalty,€the€numberŠ ‚Ņ Šof€people€sentenced€to€death,€the€number€of€those€executed,€and€the€number€of€sentencesŠ k» Šcommuted€since€2000.€€The€Committee€calls€on€the€State€party€to€bring€its€legislation€andŠ T¤ Špractice€into€line€with€the€Covenant.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€Egypt€take€measuresŠ =  Što€abolish€the€death€penalty.Š& v(#(# ŠĢ(13)€While€noting€the€creation€of€institutional€machinery€and€the€introduction€of€measures€to€punishŠ ų H Šany€violations€of€human€rights€by€employees€of€the€State,€the€Committee€notes€with€concern€theŠ į 1  Špersistence€of€torture€and€cruel,€inhuman€or€degrading€treatment€at€the€hands€of€law-enforcementŠ Ź   Špersonnel,€in€particular€the€security€services,€whose€recourse€to€such€practices€appears€to€displayŠ ³  Ša€systematic€pattern.€€It€is€equally€concerned€at€the€general€lack€of€investigations€into€such€practices,Š œģ  Špunishment€of€those€responsible,€and€reparation€for€the€victims.€€It€is€also€concerned€at€the€absenceŠ …Õ  Šof€any€independent€body€to€investigate€such€complaints€(articles€6€and€7€of€the€Covenant).Š n¾  ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€should€ensure€that€all€violations€of€articles€6€and€7€of€the€Covenant€areŠ @ Šinvestigated€and,€depending€on€the€results€of€investigations,€should€take€action€against€thoseŠ )y Šheld€responsible€and€make€reparation€to€the€victims.€€It€should€also€set€up€an€independentŠ b Šbody€to€investigate€such€complaints.€€The€State€party€is€invited€to€provide€detailed€statisticsŠ ūK Šin€its€next€report€on€the€number€of€complaints€lodged€against€State€employees,€the€nature€ofŠ ä4 Šthe€offences€alleged,€the€State€services€implicated,€the€number€and€nature€of€the€inquiriesŠ Ķ Šlaunched,€the€action€taken€and€the€reparations€made€to€the€victims.ж(#(# ŠĢ(14)€€The€Committee€regrets€the€lack€of€clarity€about€the€law€and€practice€in€matters€of€detention€inŠ ˆŲ Šcustody:€€the€duration€of€such€detention,€and€access€to€a€lawyer€during€such€detention.€€It€points€outŠ qĮ Šthat€it€has€been€given€no€information€on€the€total€duration€of€pre„trial€detention€or€the€offencesŠ ZŖ Šinvolved.€€It€is€concerned€at€the€lack€of€clarity€concerning€the€safeguards€laid€down€in€article€9,Š C“ Šparagraph€3,€of€the€Covenant.€€The€Committee€also€notes€the€persistent€occurrence€of€cases€ofŠ ,| Šarbitrary€detention.Š e ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€is€requested€to€elaborate€on€the€compatibility€of€its€legislation€and€practiceŠ ē 7 Šin€matters€of€detention€in€custody€and€pre„trial€detention€with€article€9€of€the€Covenant.ŠŠ!  (#(# ŠĢ(15)€€While€noting€the€explanations€given€by€the€delegation€of€the€State€party€about€the€periodic€andŠ ¢#ņ" Šspontaneous€inspections€of€prison€establishments€by€the€authorities,€the€Committee€notes€thatŠ ‹$Ū# Šdetention€conditions€inconsistent€with€article€10€of€the€Covenant€persist.€€It€also€regrets€theŠ t%Ä $ Šimpediments€to€visits€by€United€Nations„instituted€treaty€and€non„treaty€human€rights€mechanismsŠ ]&­!% Šand€non„governmental€human€rights€organizations.Š F'–"& ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€is€invited€to€provide€the€Committee€in€its€next€report€with€statistics€on€theŠ )h$( Šnumber€of€people€set€free€as€a€result€of€inspections.€€It€is€also€encouraged€to€permitŠ *Q%) Šintergovernmental€and€non„governmental€visits€and€ensure€that,€in€actual€practice,€article€10Š ź*:&* Šof€the€Covenant€is€strictly€respected.ŠÓ+#'+(#(# ŠĢ(16)€€While€understanding€the€security€requirements€associated€with€efforts€to€combat€terrorism,€theŠ „-õ(- ŠCommittee€voices€concern€at€their€effects€on€the€human€rights€situation€in€Egypt,€particularly€inŠ ° Šrelation€to€articles€6,€7,€9€and€14€of€the€Covenant.Š ™é ŠĢ(a)€€The€Committee€considers€that€the€effect€of€the€very€broad€and€general€definition€of€terrorismŠ k» Šgiven€in€Act€No.€97€of€1992€is€to€increase€the€number€of€offences€attracting€the€death€penalty€in€aŠ T¤ Šway€that€runs€counter€to€the€sense€of€article€6,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant.Š =  ŠĢ(b)€€The€Committee€notes€with€alarm€that€military€courts€and€State€security€courts€have€jurisdictionŠ  _ Što€try€civilians€accused€of€terrorism€although€there€are€no€guarantees€of€those€courtsšš€independenceŠ ų H Šand€their€decisions€are€not€subject€to€appeal€before€a€higher€court€(article€14€of€the€Covenant).Š į 1  ŠĢ(c)€The€Committee€notes€furthermore€that€Egyptian€nationals€suspected€or€convicted€of€terrorismŠ ³  Šabroad€and€expelled€to€Egypt€have€not€benefited€in€detention€from€the€safeguards€required€to€ensureŠ œģ  Šthat€they€are€not€ill„treated,€having€notably€been€held€incommunicado€for€periods€of€over€one€monthŠ …Õ  Š(articles€7€and€9€of€the€Covenant).Š n¾  ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€must€ensure€that€steps€taken€in€the€campaign€against€terrorism€are€fully€inŠ @ Šaccordance€with€the€Covenant.€€It€should€ensure€that€legitimate€action€against€terrorism€doesŠ )y Šnot€become€a€source€of€violations€of€the€Covenant.Šb(#(# ŠĢ(17)€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€infringements€of€the€right€to€freedom€of€religion€or€belief.Š ä4 ŠĢ(a)€€The€Committee€deplores€the€ban€on€worship€imposed€on€the€Bahašši€community.Š ¶ ŠĢ(b)€€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€at€the€pressures€applied€to€the€judiciary€by€extremists€claimingŠ ˆŲ Što€represent€Islam,€who€have€even€succeeded,€in€some€cases,€in€imposing€on€courts€their€ownŠ qĮ Šinterpretation€of€the€religion€(articles€14,€18€and€19€of€the€Covenant).Š ZŖ ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€must€see€to€it€that€its€legislation€and€practice€are€consistent€with€article€18Š ,| Šof€the€Covenant€as€regards€the€rights€of€the€Bahašši€community€and€reinforce€its€legislation,Š e Šin€particular€Act€No.€3€of€1996,€to€make€it€consistent€with€articles€14,€18€and€19€of€theŠ žN ŠCovenant.Šē 7(#(# ŠĢ(18)€€The€Committee€is€deeply€concerned€at€the€State€partyššs€failure€to€take€action€following€theŠ ¹" ! Špublication€of€some€very€violent€articles€against€the€Jews€in€the€Egyptian€press,€which€in€factŠ ¢#ņ" Šconstitute€advocacy€of€racial€and€religious€hatred€and€incitement€to€discrimination,€hostility€andŠ ‹$Ū# Šviolence.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€must€take€whatever€action€is€necessary€to€punish€such€acts€by€ensuringŠ F'–"& Šrespect€for€article€20,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant.Š/(#'(#(# ŠĢ(19)€€The€Committee€notes€the€criminalization€of€some€behaviours€such€as€those€characterized€asŠ *Q%) Šš šdebaucheryšš€(articles€17€and€26€of€the€Covenant).Š ź*:&* ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€should€ensure€that€articles€17€and€26€of€the€Covenant€are€strictly€upheld,€andŠ ¼, (, Šshould€refrain€from€penalizing€private€sexual€relations€between€consenting€Ō_Ōadults.Š„-õ(-(#(# Ї(20)€While€noting€the€efforts€the€State€party€has€made€to€ensure€that€people€are€educated€aboutŠ ° Šhuman€rights€and€tolerance,€the€Committee€observes€that€results€in€this€area€are€still€inadequate.Š ™é ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€is€invited€to€strengthen€human€rights€education€and€use€education€to€forestallŠ k» Šall€displays€of€intolerance€and€discrimination€based€on€religion€or€belief.ŠT¤(#(# ŠĢ(21)€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€restrictions€placed€by€Egyptian€legislation€and€practice€onŠ & v Šthe€foundation€of€non„governmental€organizations€and€the€activities€of€such€organizations€such€asŠ  _ Šefforts€to€secure€foreign€funding,€which€require€prior€approval€from€the€authorities€on€pain€ofŠ ų H Šcriminal€penalties€(article€22€of€the€Covenant).Š į 1  ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€should€review€its€legislation€and€practice€in€order€to€enableŠ ³  Šnon-governmental€organizations€to€discharge€their€functions€without€impediments€which€areŠ œģ  Šinconsistent€with€the€provisions€of€article€22€of€the€Covenant,€such€as€prior€authorization,Š …Õ  Šfunding€controls€and€administrative€dissolution.Šn¾ (#(# ŠĢ(22)€The€Committee€notes€the€de€jure€and€de€facto€impediments€to€the€establishment€and€functioningŠ @ Šof€political€parties,€primarily€created€by€the€committee€set€up€under€the€Political€Parties€Act€No.€40Š )y Šof€1977,€without€full€guarantees€of€independence€(articles€22€and€25€of€the€Covenant).Š b ŠĢą0  ąThe€State€party€should€permit€the€democratic€expression€of€political€pluralism€and€thus€abideŠ ä4 Šby€its€obligations€under€the€Covenant,€taking€into€account€the€Committeeššs€general€commentŠ Ķ ŠNo.€25.€€It€is€also€requested€to€provide€in€its€next€report€a€list€of€the€offences€for€which€aŠ ¶ Šcourt€may€strip€individuals€of€their€civil€and€political€rights.ŠŸļ(#(# ŠĢ(23)€The€State€party€should€disseminate€widely€the€text€of€its€periodic€reports€and€the€presentŠ qĮ Šconcluding€observations.Š ZŖ ŠĢ(24)€In€accordance€with€article€70,€paragraph€5,€of€the€Committeeššs€rules€of€procedure,€the€StateŠ ,| Šparty€should€within€one€year€provide€information€on€the€implementation€of€the€CommitteeššsŠ e Šrecommendations€in€paragraphs€6,€12,€13,€16€and€18€of€the€present€text.€€The€Committee€requestsŠ žN Šthe€State€party€to€provide€in€its€next€report,€which€it€is€scheduled€to€submit€by€1€November€2004,Š ē 7 Šinformation€on€the€other€recommendations€made€and€on€its€implementation€of€the€Covenant€as€aŠ Š!   Šwhole.Š ¹" ! ŠŌUS.,CE.,&#ŌŌUKUS.,Ōņ ņĢó óŌUS.,UK.,¤iŌ