December 19, 2011
December 19, 2011
“Some of those who were filmed this weekend, including those viciously clubbing and kicking an apparently unconscious half-naked woman, should be easy to identify. Consequently, there must be arrests and prosecutions,” she said.
“It seems that Egyptian security forces, and their political and military commanders, have learned nothing over the past year, including the fact that actions like these simply fuel further anger and protests and make a resolution of Egypt’s political, social and economic problems more difficult to achieve.”
Ms. Pillay reiterated her call for an impartial investigation into all incidents of abuse and violence, including killings, torture and the use of excessive force by security and military forces. She called for end to the violence, stressing that those responsible must be face justice.
She also called for the immediate release of all detained protesters and for an end to the media campaign aimed at discrediting peaceful demonstrators. Ms. Pillay also urged protesters to preserve the peaceful nature of their demonstrations.
“The ruthless violence being used against unarmed women protesters is especially shocking and cannot be left unpunished,” she said. “There have also been extremely disturbing reports of the ill-treatment of women in detention. These must be immediately investigated and perpetrators brought to justice.”
She urged Egypt’s senior military and political leaders to act on the violence or risk future prosecution for complicity in serious crimes.
“The Egyptian authorities have to show a real commitment to human rights, including through the full eradication of ill-treatment, a comprehensive reform of the security sector, lifting of the state of emergency, and the respect of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, particularly freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association.”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a statement yesterday also called on Egypt’s transitional authorities to show restraint, voicing concern over the resurgence of violence in Cairo.
UN News Center