CAIRO: An alleged mass arrest, torture of detainees and framing evidence turned the attention of human rights lawyers from El-Nadim Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence to Al-Warraq district in Cairo. Haitham Mohamedein, lawyer at El-Nadim Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence, said Lieutenant Magdy Awad from Warraq Police Station rounded up seven of the neighborhood's residents last week in search of Sayed Abouzeid who was involved in a public scuffle the day before. In order to pressure Abouzeid to turn himself in, Awad allegedly headed to his brother Ali's house and arrested him and his son Mohamed. He then arrested his other brother Saeed Abouzeid and his wife Nadia Zaki. When Ibrahim El-Ashry, a neighbor, interfered, he was allegedly beaten and dragged to the police station, along with two other neighbors and eyewitnesses Essam Mohamed Mostafa and Mohamed Hanaa, Mohamedein said. All detainees were allegedly kept in one room except for Zaki. "The men were beaten by the police, especially El-Ashry, whom Awad specifically ordered to kneel and kept slapping him on the face and beating him, said Mohamedein. El-Ashry is facing charges of possession of heroin and a machete, based on a complaint filed by Awad. The rest of the detainees were released when Abouzeid turned himself in. El-Ashry's hearing at the misdemeanors court was postponed from Tuesday, Aug. 6 for 15 days. Meanwhile, human rights activists filed a complaint to Prosecutor General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud against Awad for allegedly breaking into three houses and arresting seven people without charges, torturing five others and framing evidence. However, Awad failed to show up for his interrogation by the prosecutor general's office last Saturday, Aug. 15, and has been sent an official request to report for interrogation. "Justice has to be served and it will be served, said Mohamedein.
