Wednesday, February 2, 2011

WikiLeaks: Releases Egyptian related Cable leaks

. (SBU) Egypt's police and domestic security services continue to be dogged by persistent, credible allegations of abuse of detainees.  Prosecutors occasionally investigate and convict low-level police officers of human rights violations, but senior officials receive little scrutiny.  The State Department's annual human rights report posits that the Egyptian police services are characterized by a culture of 
impunity.  Prosecutors have only filed human rights-related charges against one SSIS officer since 1986.  (Note:  SSIS is the elite Interior Ministry force responsible for counter-terrorism and political crimes.  End note.)  In September, three days after a judge exonerated that SSIS officer on charges of the 2003 torture-murder of a detainee, 
the government closed the human rights NGO that had provided advocacy and support to the surviving family members of the alleged victim.  A new Police Advisor at the Embassy, under the auspices of a State-funded program, recently began working with the Egyptian police on heightening civil rights awareness and community policing issues.  We would appreciate your highlighting USG enthusiasm about this program, and our hope that it will continue. RICCIARDONE

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