Amnesty International News Flash-Update
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Amnesty International Staff Member Detained in Cairo
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, 212-633-4150, [email protected]
(London) — An Amnesty International representative has been detained by police in Cairo after the Hisham Mubarak Law Centre was taken over by military police this morning.
Amnesty International USA called on President Obama to immediately demand the release of the Amnesty International staff member. In addition, the organization has asked for a meeting in Washington with the Egyptian ambassador to the United States.
The Amnesty International staff member was taken, along with two others, Ahmed Seif Al Islam and Khaled Ali, as well as a delegate from Human Rights Watch and others, to an unknown location in Cairo. Amnesty International does not know their current whereabouts.
“We call for the immediate and safe release of our colleague and others with them who should be able to monitor the human rights situation in Egypt at this crucial time without fear of harassment or detention,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
A number of other activists are still being held in the Centre.