CAIRO, Egypt – Human Rights Watch on Tuesday accused the Egyptian government of using torture and false confessions in a high-profile terrorism case in 2006.

In 74-page report “Anatomy of a State Security Case: The ‘Victorious Sect’ Arrests,” the rights group examines how 22 young Egyptians were tortured into making false confessions about their plan to carry out attacks on tourists and other civilian targets in Cairo. According to the report, there are indications that even the name of the group “Victorious Sect” was created by security agents who arrested them back in February and March 2006.

Although government prosecutors eventually dismissed all charges against the 22 detainees, 10 of them still remain in custody. The rights groups said those who were released are afraid to speak publicly for fear of exposing themselves or their co-defendants to further harassment by state intelligence agency. One of the 22 detainees who did speak out told Human Rights Watch that they were “beaten up with fists and sticks, and kicked around” and the authorities used electricity on different parts of the body, “including sensitive areas.”

For more information, please see:

New York Times – Rights group says Egypt used torture in terror case – 12 December 2007

Human Rights Watch – Torture and Coerced Confessions Used in High-Profile Terrorism Investigation – 11 December 2007

Unted Press International – Rights group Faults Egypt over arrests – 11 December 2007