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HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
1. Egypt GENERAL, POLITICAL AND LEGAL OVERVIEW Egypt has been witnessing many serious violations of human rights, most significantly in the aftermath of the military coup against Egypt’s first democratically-elected President, Mohamed Morsi, on 3rd July 2013. The coup was led by military leader Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, who later came to power. Since the fateful day, hundreds of protesters have been killed during the dispersal of the sit-ins and demonstrations protesting the coup. Thousands more have been arrested, and numerous cases have emerged reporting the forceful disappearance of many Egyptians; and the spread of torture and sexual assault in prisons and detention centres, all in a glaring violation of international human rights agreements and conventions. Since the coup, Egypt has also witnessed a number of mass death sentences issued against hundreds of political detainees opposed to the coup, and around 830 students have been expelled or suspended for up to two semesters for their opposition.
The right to freedom, fair trial and treatment •
Abductions and enforced disappearance
According to International Law, forced disappearance occurs when authorities detain an individual then deny holding him in custody or refuse to reveal where he is being held. According to the 1992 Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, “Enforced disappearances occur when persons are arrested, detained or abducted against their will or otherwise deprived of their liberty by officials of different branches or levels of Government, or by organised groups or private individuals acting on behalf of, or with the support, direct or indirect, consent or acquiescence of the Government, followed by a refusal to disclose the fate or whereabouts of the persons concerned or a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of their liberty, which places such persons outside the protection of the law.” Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 20 of the Arab Charter for Human Rights stipulate that all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person. The Inter-American Court for Human