A preliminary Report on The visit of a Human rights delegation to the former President Mohamed Morsi in his prison

Cairo 28^th July, 2013

A preliminary Report on

The visit of a Human rights delegation to the former President Mohamed Morsi in his prison

The Egyptian government agreed on the request submitted by the Arab Center for the Independence of  the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP) to allow a delegation of Egyptians Jurists, which includes both Mr. Muhammad Fa'iq member of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Organization for Human Rights, and the former Vice President of the National Council for Human Rights and Mr. Nasser Amin Director-General of the Arab Center for the Independence of  the Judiciary and the Legal Profession and a former member of the the National human Rights Council, to visit the former President Mohamed Morsi in his prison on Friday 26/07/2013. The public prosecutor has ordered to sentence the former President Mohamed Morsi for 15 days on pending investigation, to determine his health state and living conditions and the extent of the application of international standards for preventive detention.

It has been shown to the delegation that the former president detained in one of the buildings of the Egyptian army and is secured well, accompanied by both: Ambassador Mohammed Refa'a Al-Tahtawi the Chief of Staff of the former President and Mr. Ahmed Sheikha Director of the Office of the former President - (as stated by the first because we could not meet him).

The delegation was unable to examine the place of detention from inside and its suitability due to the apology of the former president to meet the delegation inside the headquarters of his detention because the human rights delegation did not included Salim Al-Awa as he saidaccording to what reported by Ambassador Refa'a Tahtawi, who has met the delegation on behalf of the former president. He informed the delegation that he and the other two detainees did not know the place of their detention. Moreover, they were unable to contact their families or lawyers since determining their residence till now.

Tahtawi also stated that the treatment of Guard forces is a good treatment, dignified and respectful. With regard to interrogation procedures, Tahtawi said that the investigation's judge had conducted the investigation with the former president on 16 and 24 July. Note (This statement does not provide information relating to the investigation due to a decision by the investigator to ban publication in this issue). They also asked Mr. Tahtawi whether there is a coercion or pressure on the former president during his interrogation by the investigator or any of the persons in charge of guarding him, and he denied this definitely and affirmed that nothing happened al all.

Regarding the health and living conditions of the President and his companions, Tahtawi decided that no one of them suffered from any disease or health obstacles, and that the usual medications are provided to them when requested from the administration.

despite the fact that the right to communicate with the outside world and the right to detention in a known place are one of the rights that can be constrained, in cases of danger or threat to the national security of the country, but the constraints must be necessary to build a democratic society in accordance with the comments of the UN Human Rights committee on the international Covenant on civil and political rights.

Therefore, the delegation recommended the following measures whenever possible:

First: the place of detention of the former president should be a specific and known place, and the release of his companions, unless there were specific charges directed to them.

Second: Enabling the former president and his companions to contact their families and visiting them.

Third: enabling the former president and his companions to contact their lawyers and get legal assistance from lawyers of their choice.