(Cairo, Egypt, March 5, 2011) - Priyanka Motaparthy, researcher
"Protesters entered the State Security Investigations (SSI) compound in Nasr City, a place they call the “torture center” of Egypt, just before 7 PM. They dragged out as many documents and materials as they could, to protect them from being destroyed. The night before in Alexandria, protesters stormed the state security headquarters on Fara’ana Street, and found “mountains of shredded paper,” one activist who entered the building told Human Rights Watch. “By the time we got inside, there was nothing left [intact].”
Protesters began gathering in front of the Nasr City compound around 4 PM, and by 5:30, we observed a crowd of at least 250. Just before 7, we found a side entrance, where army officers stood by as people entered.
Inside the compound, protesters started a collection point, amassing several large trash bags full of shredded paper, file folders still intact, computer hard drives, and a green metal safe. Others wandered through the halls of the building, shouting “where are the prisoners?” They were searching for the secret detention cells where political prisoners were held and often tortured. Activists have now posted photos of these underground cells [scroll down to watch a video]on Twitter. They also report finding the files of well-known Egyptian activists who faced torture, including Khaled Said and Ahmad Maher.
Around 9:30 p.m., protesters demanded that a representative from the public prosecutor’s office come and oversee safe transport of the documents. The actions today and yesterday at the state security offices show the protesters’ determination to see that the Mubarak government is held accountable for systematic torture and enforced disappearances....."
"Protesters entered the State Security Investigations (SSI) compound in Nasr City, a place they call the “torture center” of Egypt, just before 7 PM. They dragged out as many documents and materials as they could, to protect them from being destroyed. The night before in Alexandria, protesters stormed the state security headquarters on Fara’ana Street, and found “mountains of shredded paper,” one activist who entered the building told Human Rights Watch. “By the time we got inside, there was nothing left [intact].”
Protesters began gathering in front of the Nasr City compound around 4 PM, and by 5:30, we observed a crowd of at least 250. Just before 7, we found a side entrance, where army officers stood by as people entered.
Inside the compound, protesters started a collection point, amassing several large trash bags full of shredded paper, file folders still intact, computer hard drives, and a green metal safe. Others wandered through the halls of the building, shouting “where are the prisoners?” They were searching for the secret detention cells where political prisoners were held and often tortured. Activists have now posted photos of these underground cells [scroll down to watch a video]on Twitter. They also report finding the files of well-known Egyptian activists who faced torture, including Khaled Said and Ahmad Maher.
Around 9:30 p.m., protesters demanded that a representative from the public prosecutor’s office come and oversee safe transport of the documents. The actions today and yesterday at the state security offices show the protesters’ determination to see that the Mubarak government is held accountable for systematic torture and enforced disappearances....."
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