The Cairo Institute For Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) has reported that torture continues to be systematically perpetrated in North Africa.
Development Diaries reports that CIHRS made this known as it marked International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is commemorated annually on 26 June to speak out against the crime of torture.
It is also observed to honour and support victims and survivors throughout the world.
‘On International Day in Support of Victims of #Torture, we recall that torture continues to be systematically perpetrated in the #MENA, with #impunity for the perpetrators, the complicity of state agencies, and the misuse of counter-terrorism laws to impede #accountability’, the regional non-governmental organisation tweeted.
On International Day in Support of Victims of #Torture, we recall that torture continue to be systematically perpetrated in the #MENA, with #impunity for the perpetrators, the complicity of state agencies, and the misuse of counter-terrorism laws to impede #accountability. pic.twitter.com/uZ02bZKqr5
— CIHRS (@CIHRS_Alerts) June 26, 2023
The continuous suppression of civil liberties in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria is worrisome and urgent action is needed to buck this trend.
For example, in a 2022 report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the government of Egypt had reached a new low around torture after two leaked videos showing detainees in a Cairo police station with wounds were reported.
Another example, this time in Algeria in January 2023, Amnesty International reported torture claims during the trials of 54 individuals who were sentenced to death.
It is understood that Algeria, which has not carried out any executions since 1993, has yet to abolish the death penalty or sign and ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Torture is prohibited by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and by the aforementioned 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Torture is also listed as one of the crimes that constitute a ‘grave breach’ of the 1949 Geneva Conventions on the treatment of victims of war.
Development Diaries calls on the North African countries to promptly investigate all allegations of torture or other ill-treatment.
We also call on the authorities in these countries to, in addition to respecting their international human rights obligations, order retrials for all those convicted in their absence or prosecuted over their political affiliations.
Photo source: Hossam el-Hamalawy
