"Work on him until he confesses" [electronic resource] : impunity for torture in Egypt / [Heba Morayef ; edited by Joe Stork, Iain Levine, and Danielle Haas]

Title from PDF title page (Human Rights Watch, viewed February 1, 2011).

"January 2011"--Table of contents page.

"Heba Morayef, researcher with Human Rights Watch, researched and wrote this report. Joe Stork, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Division, and Iain Levine and Danielle Haas from the Program Office, edited the report."--P. 90.

Summary -- Methodology -- Key Recommendations -- To the Government of Egypt -- To the Office of the Public Prosecutor -- To the Ministry of Interior -- I. Background: Egypt's Torture Epidemic -- Systematic Torture -- Criminal Investigations Practice -- Torture and Enforced Disappearance by State Security Investigations (SSI) -- Egypt's Obligations Under International Law -- II. The Egyptian Government's Response to Torture Allegations -- Internal Disciplinary Measures of Interior Ministry -- The National Council for Human Rights Ombudsman (NCHR) -- III. The Role of the Niyaba -- Access to Places of Detention -- Lack of Independence -- IV. The Impunity Gap -- Most Torture Cases Never Reach Court -- International Legal Standards on Investigation of Torture Allegations -- V. Why Most Torture Cases Never Reach Court -- Inadequate Legal Framework -- Absolute Prosecutorial Discretion to Close Investigations -- Intimidation of Victims and Witnesses -- Delays and Poor Quality of Forensic Medical Examination -- Conflict of Interest: Relying on Police for Evidence -- Delays in Investigations -- Failure to Conduct an Impartial Investigation -- Impunity for State Security Investigations Officers -- VI. State Security Court Reliance on Confessions Obtained under Torture -- The 2006 Taba Trial -- The Victorious Sect Case -- The Zeitoun Case -- VII. Lenient Sentencing and Failure to Discipline -- VIII. Conclusion: Impunity and Denial of Effective Remedy -- IX. Recommendations -- To the Government of Egypt -- To the Office of the Public Prosecutor -- To the Ministry of Interior -- To the Egyptian Parliament -- To European Union Member States and the United States -- Acknowledgments -- Appendix -- HRW Letter to Ministry of Interior [Original in Arabic] -- HRW Letter to Public Prosecutor [Original in Arabic]

"Torture is widespread in Egypt--used by law enforcement officers for Criminal Investigations and State Security Investigations (SSI) in a deliberate and systematic manner to glean confessions and information or to punish both criminal and political detainees. Since most torture cases are not prosecuted, police abuse is common and law enforcement officers are free to act with impunity. For example, SSI officers are not permitted to detain people but frequently carry out enforced disappearances and interrogate and abuse suspects. The government maintains that incidents of torture are isolated and that it investigates each one. While prosecutors open investigation files on each formal complaint, a number of factors prevent most cases progressing to court, including police intimidation of victims and witnesses who pursue complaints, the prosecution's limited resources and lack of independence, an inadequate legal framework, and the fact that police from the same unit as the alleged perpetrator are responsible for gathering evidence and summoning witnesses. This report documents the obstacles that exist to prosecuting law enforcement officers for torture and finds the government is failing to provide torture victims effective remedy, or to deter such abuses in the future by holding perpetrators accountable. 'Work on Him until He Confesses' urges the Egyptian government to investigate all credible allegations of torture and ill-treatment, even in the absence of a formal complaint. Prosecutors should conduct these inquiries promptly, impartially, and thoroughly, ensuring they investigate all those allegedly responsible, including superiors, and without involving alleged abusers in gathering evidence."--P. [4] of cover.

Also published in Arabic.