Egypt: African Rights Session Amid Dire Abuses

April 24, 2019

Egypt is hosting an Africa human rights session beginning April 24, 2019, while its government is presiding over the worst human rights crisis in the country in recent decades, 15 African, Egyptian, and international organizations said today.

The 64^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the African Union’s top rights body, will take place from April 24 to May 14 in Sharm al-Sheikh. In addition to its systematic failure to respect and protect human rights at home, Egypt has also led efforts to undermine the commission’s independence. The commission should strongly raise Egypt’s human rights abuses at the meeting.

“Egypt is trying to appear like a country open for human rights delegates and sessions while, at the same time, crushing all dissenting voices and its once-vibrant human rights community,” said Michael page, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “We know that many Egyptian and international organizations are not allowed to work freely in Egypt and cannot voice concerns without severe retaliation from the government.”

…

In September 2017, officials stopped Ibrahim Metwally, a lawyer and co-founder of the Associations of the Families of the Disappeared, from traveling for meetings with UN officials in Geneva. Security agencies arrested him at the airport and held him incommunicado for a few days. He is still held in “pretrial detention” for farcical charges.

…

https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/04/24/egypt-african-rights-session-amid-dire-abuses

Egypt: African rights summit amid dire abuses

https://allafrica.com/stories/201904240279.html

The lawyer “Ibrahim Metwally” is facing deliberate medical negligence inside his imprisonment.

https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/01/giulio-regeni-torture-egypt-italian-government

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/12/egypt-italy-regeni-attorney-20-suspects-egyptian-officials.html

http://www.achpr.org/sessions/64th_os/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibrahim_Metwaly

https://www.hrw.org/fr/news/2019/04/24/egypte-session-de-la-cadhp-dans-un-contexte-de-violations-de-droits-humains (FRANCAIS)

https://www.atlasinfo.fr/Egypte-ouverture-de-la-64e-session-ordinaire-de-la-Commission-africaine-des-droits-de-l-Homme-et-des-peuples_a100067.html (FRANCAIS)

http://www.achpr.org/fr/sessions/64th_os/ (FRANCAIS)

https://www.hrw.org/ar/news/2019/04/24/329396 (ARABIC)

http://www.achpr.org/ar/sessions/64th_os/ (ARABIC)

Ibrahim Metwally

Cameroon: Detained for 56 days, lawyer Michèlle Ndoki seeks release April 25th

April 24, 2019

#CameroonCrisis: For 55 days Maitre #MichelleNdoki has been deprived of the same liberty that she championed for others. Her Habeas corpus application was heard on 18/4/2019 was adjourned to 25/4/19 for the State Counsel to tender the proof of arrest and remand. pic.twitter.com/IFCiCzd3L4

— Dr Paul CHIY (@DrPaulCHIY) April 23, 2019

Cameroon: Michelle Ndoki returns to court today

Cameroon: Michelle Ndoki accuses court of violating bail laws

Barrister Ndoki Condemns Her Detention, Says It Is Illegal

https://www.cl2p.org/la-lecon-magistrale-de-michele-ndoki-aux-juges-dans-sa-requete-en-habeas-corpus/ (FRANCAIS)

https://www.camer.be/74334/6:1/cameroon-cameroun-la-lecon-magistrale-de-michele-ndoki-aux-juges-dans-sa-requete-en-habeas-corpus.html (FRANCAIS)

https://camer24.net/cameroun-michelle-ndoki-accuse-le-tribunal-davoir-viole-les-lois-sur-la-liberation-sous-caution/ (FRANCAIS)

https://camerounactuel.com/2019/04/20/affaire-me-michelle-ndoki-le-proces-est-reporte-au-25-avril-2019/ (FRANCAIS)

https://lanationdafrique.com/actu/justice-me-michele-ndoki-demande-sa-liberation-immediate/ (FRANCAIS)

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Ndoki (FRANCAIS)

USA: Black attorney says deputy thought he was a suspect and detained him at court

March 27, 2019

A black lawyer has filed a complaint against a Maryland sheriff’s deputy who detained him in court thinking he was a suspect in a case and did not believe he was an attorney.

In a complaint, Rashad James with the Maryland Legal Aid said a Harford County deputy thought he was his client impersonating a lawyer and questioned him at the county courthouse. James’ client is also black but was not present at the hearing March 6 to file a petition for expungement — which was granted — the attorney told NBCBLK.

After a successful hearing, James says the officer didn’t believe his driver’s license was valid. He says he was the only black attorney in the courtroom and it was his first time representing a client in Harford County.

…

https://www.keepthefaith.co.uk/2019/04/24/black-attorney-says-deputy-thought-he-was-a-suspect-and-detained-him-at-court/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/03/28/lawyering-while-black-maryland-deputy-accused-attorney-being-suspect-complaint-says/?utm_term=.c23e216e0133

Hong Kong: Law professor & activist Benny Tai sentenced to 16 months in jail

April 24, 2019

#BREAKING #OccupyHK co-founders Benny Tai and Chan Kin-man given 16 month jail terms for the first of two public nuisance charge they faced pic.twitter.com/BsqKhrBDRo

— RTHK English News (@rthk_enews) April 24, 2019

BREAKING: Hong Kong’s leading Umbrella Movement activists handed jail sentences

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-48033156

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/04/hong-kong-free-jailed-pro-democracy-umbrella-movement-protest-leaders/?fbclid=IwAR3QfNkZt-RPZs0JGW_xs6CipkqoAdwfbkihVtO-khEExpcSkjUbWTjm738

https://www.ft.com/content/ae446260-662b-11e9-9adc-98bf1d35a056

https://www.euronews.com/2019/04/24/hong-kongs-occupy-leaders-face-possible-jail-for-2014-democracy-protests

https://www.france24.com/en/20190423-prison-looms-convicted-hong-kong-democracy-leaders

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3007536/will-academic-benny-tai-and-hong-kong-lawmaker-shiu-ka-chun

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3007555/hong-kongs-legal-and-political-sectors-split-over-jail

http://www.omct.org/human-rights-defenders/urgent-interventions/hong-kong/2019/04/d25326/

https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa17/0257/2019/en/?fbclid=IwAR3UOGMF7RI1GnJPI1zBaPkLBd3uaertgxqt9kuoz7_rrAE1F2dDl3fm0aU

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Tai

https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2019/04/24/hongkong-jusqu-a-16-mois-de-prison-pour-les-leaders-du-mouvement-prodemocratie_5454042_3210.html (FRANCAIS)

https://www.boursorama.com/bourse/actualites/hong-kong-les-chefs-du-mouvement-occupy-condamnes-a-16-mois-de-prison-825e6a1d617026213c9d82b8e761d7b3 (FRANCAIS)

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Tai (FRANCAIS)

https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/hong-kong-urteile-101.html (DEUTSCH)

http://www.rtve.es/noticias/20190424/lideres-revolucion-paraguas-condenados-penas-hasta-16-meses-carcel/1927381.shtml (ESPANOL)

https://riforma.it/it/articolo/2019/04/24/hong-kong-16-mesi-di-prigione-ai-leader-di-occupy-central (ITALIANO)

Greece: Lawyers indicted in prison ‘mafia’ case released on conditions

April 22, 2019

Prominent criminal lawyers Alexandros Lykourezos and Theodoros Panagopoulos who were arrested last Friday over their alleged involvement in the so-called Korydallos prison “mafia,” were released on bail on Monday evening, after their marathon statements to a prosecutor and an investigative magistrate.

Lykourezos was banned from leaving the country and had to pay 50,000 euros in bail. He will also have to appear to his local police station. Panagopoulos was also slapped with a travel ban.

The two men deny any part in the racket.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/239820/article/ekathimerini/news/lawyers-indicted-in-prison-mafia-case-released-on-conditions

Greek Lawyers Tied to Prison Mafia Conditionally Released

Greek “Prison Mafia” Suspects Released on Bail

http://www.ekathimerini.com/239808/article/ekathimerini/news/prominent-lawyers-deny-any-involvement-in-prison-mafia

http://www.ekathimerini.com/239795/article/ekathimerini/news/prominent-athens-lawyer-lykourezos-testifies-over-prison-gang

https://dyyad.blogspot.com/2019/04/crackdown-of-lawyers-in-greece-dyyads.html?fbclid=IwAR29JbmlBIswX_xt2IRYqXkWEZM784US35n2EeiH-2z9xZJFHp1K9Xq_R7M

Alexandros Lykourezos

https://www.tilegrafima.gr/nea/alexandros-lykourezos-eleftheros-me-perioristikous-orous/ (GREEK)

https://www.policenews.eu/44387/o-alexandros-lykourezos-spai-ti-siopi-tou-gia-ti-mafia-ton-fylakon/ (GREEK)

https://www.griechenland.net/nachrichten/politik/25628-verdacht-auf-kriminelle-organisation-staranawalt-auf-kaution-in-freiheit (DEUTSCH)