Statement by the Human Rights Committee at the Anti-Coup Alliance on the Regime’s Violation of Freedom of Assembly

(Cairo, August 2, 2013)- The Anti-Coup, Pro-Democracy Alliance condemns the use of excessive force against the anti-coup protesters and the use of tear gas heavily to disperse the anti-coup protesters today. This has caused suffocation and injuries to many protesters who were protesting peacefully in front of the Media Production City in Cairo on Friday 2 August 2013.

Moreover, security forces arrested a number of the protesters and refused to allow ambulances to take the injured protesters to hospitals for treatment; instead it arrested and humiliated them without providing them with the required medical care for their injuries.

Earlier today, security forces sat-fire to the trees surrounding the Media Production City in order to charge the protesters of disturbing public peace and to have a justification for arresting them; however protesters were able to quench the fire successfully.

The Anti-Coup Alliance warns the Egyptian authorities of the continued use of excessive force against the peaceful anti-coup protesters which will increase the sense of polarization in the country. It also reminds the Egyptian authorities of the international rules for dealing with protests which they should respect in accordance with their international obligations.