Hanan Badr El-Din faces continued arbitrary detention
On 5 September 2017, human rights defender Hanan Badr El-Din Othman continues to face “preventative detention” by order of Egyptian authorities. The human rights defender has been held without charge since 6 May 2017, when she was arrested during a visit to Qanatar prison to inquire about the whereabouts of her husband.
Hanan Badr El-Din Othman is a human rights defender and co-founder of the Association of the Families of the Disappeared group, a network of individuals whose loved ones have been subjected to enforced disappearances. Hanan Badr El-Din became an active human rights defender working on the issue of enforced disappearances after the disappearance of her husband, Khalid Mohamed Hafez Ezz el-Din, who went missing on 27 July 2013 following his participation in a demonstration.
On 5 September 2017, human rights defender Hanan Badr El-Din Othman continues to face “preventative detention” by order of Egyptian authorities. The human rights defender has been held without charge since 6 May 2017, when she was arrested during a visit to Qanatar prison to inquire about the whereabouts of her husband.
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As of 5 September 2017, Hanan Badr El-Din Othman continues to be subjected to “preventative detention” by order of the Egyptian authorities. On 6 May 2017, Hanan Badr El-Din Othman was arrested, interrogated and had her personal items confiscated during a visit to Qanatar prison. The human rights defender visited the prison seeking to find information on, and determine the fate or whereabouts of, her missing husband. On 7 May 2017, the human rights defender was transferred to South Banha prosecution office, where she has been detained during National Security Agency investigations. On 8 May 2017, the National Security Agency alleged that Hanan Badr El-Din Othman is associated with the Muslim Brotherhood organization, and extended her detention pending investigation.
Front Line Defenders condemns the arbitrary detention of human rights defender Hanan Badr El-Din Othman, as it believes that she is solely being held in retaliation for her legitimate and peaceful human rights activities.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Egypt to:
1. Immediately and unconditionally release Hanan Badr El-Din Othman and all other human rights defenders facing judicial harassment in Egypt, as Front Line Defenders believes that they are being restricted solely as a result of their legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights;
2. Cease targeting all human rights defenders in Egypt and guarantee in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.
