Human Rights Body To Visit Juvenile Detention Centre In Alexandria

Family members of 34 arrested minors complained on Tuesday to the National Council for Human Rights that their children have faced violations while in detention in Alexandria’s Kom El-Dekka juvenile detention centre and while they were being transferred to Cairo’s Marg detention centre.

Tens of family members had protested on Sunday in front of the juvenile centre in Alexandria as the detained boys were being transferred.

Video footage of the Shorouk news website showed the young boys while being escorted by police holding shot guns to a transfer vehicle. Several of the young detainees screamed that they were being tortured, beaten and humiliated in detention.

“Why are you torturing us?” one of the boys shouted repeatedly from inside the police van.

The 34 were arrested in rallies supporting ousted president Mohamed Morsi and are accused of committing acts of violence.

91 other minors facing similar charges remain in Kom El-Dekka detention centre, according to their lawyer.

Others are still being held at the Alexandria detention centre.

The NCHR said it will visit Alexnadria’s Kom El-Dekka detention centre on Wednesday to investigate the complaints. It has also sent the General Prosecutor a request to visit El-Marg detention centre where the 34 have been transferred.

Tens of minors have been reportedly arrested over the past months during demonstrations.

According to the Egyptian Coalition for Children’s Rights, at least 233 minors were arrested during clashes on 25 January in Cairo and Alexandria.

Source : Ahram online