FORMATION OF FACT-FINDING COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE PRISONERS VIOLATION IN EGYPT

Al-Quds, 24 Muharram 1437/6 November 2015 (MINA) – The vice president of Women for Human Rights in France and a spokeswoman of the Ghorbeh movement, Majida Mahfouz, has revealed there are serious talks being held between Egyptian opposition groups and international human rights organisations to form a fact-finding committee to investigate claims of human rights violations against prisoners in Egypt.

Mahfouz said French human rights organisations, including the left-wing Ensemble movement, will demand that a panel of French judges and parliamentarians join the committee as soon as possible.

“Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both agreed to participate in the committee, and we are awaiting for the European Commission of Human Rights’ response,” she added. Middle  East Monitor (MEMO) reported, Friday (6/11).

According to Mahfouz, the committee will investigate the conditions in the Egyptian prisons in terms of “its adherence to international standards and prisoners special needs including prisoners’ age and disease.”

She pointed out that the committee will talk to prisoners who claim the Egyptian authorities have committed violations against them and discuss enforced disappearances claims with “the competent security authorities”.

Mahfouz said Amnesty International in Belgium and Human Rights Watch in New York has set 12 November as the date to present their file and call for the forming of a fact-finding committee, which will be followed by bilateral meetings between Ghorbeh and international organisations before they submit their official request to the International Commission for Human Rights in Geneva. (T/P002/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)