Social Justice | ECESR Condemns Assault by Security on Minors and their Families at the Kom al-Deka Juvenile Center
On Sunday, March 16, 2014, The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR) condemned the assault by security forces on minors at the Kom al-Deka juvenile detention center in Alexandria, who had been detained against the backdrop of political events.
The assault came after a decision was made to transfer the detainees to a penal institution in Cairo. The decision was rejected by the minors and their parents, for fear of ill-treatment and torture [at those facilities].
Security forces assaulted the detainees’ families, who had gathered in protest of the transfer, using tear gas and arresting 5 family members.
Following these events, ECESR lawyers filed an administrative complaint, No.1340/2014, at the Attarin court, to establish the facts of the assault on the minors and detention of their families.
While denouncing the unjustified attacks by security forces on minors and families of detainees, in flagrant violation of the rights of the child as guaranteed by the Egyptian constitution and all relevant international charters and conventions, ECESR calls for an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the assault on the minors and their families and the release of all detainees related to this incident.
ECESR also calls for the opening of an investigation into allegations of torture and ill-treatment at the Kom al-Deka juvenile center and for the return of the detainees to the same home or an alternative center in Alexandria to allow their families to visit.
ECESR calls on public prosecutors to revise decisions to detain minors pending investigation of politically motivated events, in line with the safeguards and measures provided by the child protection act.
