Paris, February 10, 2017: After three closure attempts by the Egyptian authorities since February 2016, the El Nadeem Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence, was officially closed on February 9, 2017. Members of the security forces arrived early in the morning and sealed the door, taking advantage of the absence of staff who had stood up against previous closure attempts. The building's janitor, who tried to prevent the security forces from entering the building, was arrested by them, interrogated and later released. Aida Seif El-Dawla, co-founder of the El Nadeem Center and on the travel ban list for the past year, was threatened with being taken away with the janitor when she tried to resist arrest.

Following an administrative order issued on February 17, 2016, the members of the EL Nadeem Center, accused of contravening the registration conditions granted to them, were subjected to harassment by the authorities. Having taken the case to court to contest the closure decision received on February 17, they were never able to obtain further details or clarification on the grounds for this decision. The Center's lawyers contacted the Ministry of Health, where they were told that, to their knowledge, no violation had taken place.

Accredited since 1993, over 20 years, the El Nadeem Center provides support to victims of torture and violence, and is one of the main credible sources publishing reports on acts of torture, the recording of cases, conditions of detention and all human rights violations in Egypt. The El Nadeem Center also runs a program to combat violence against women.

FEMED deplores the reign of impunity in Egypt and the increasing use of repression against human rights activists, particularly those working on torture and enforced disappearances. It stands in solidarity with the El Nadeem Center, strongly condemning its abusive closure.

FEMED also calls on the Egyptian authorities to suspend the order to close the El Nadeem Center, to explain the reasons for their decision, and to respect the right to challenge this decision in court. It also calls for national and international solidarity in the face of repression aimed at discouraging the victims, their families, civil society as a whole and all those who support their quest for truth and justice.

Press contact:

Nassera Dutour : President of FEMED

Telephone: 33 6 13 07 29 13 / + 33 1 42 05 06 22