Amnesty International described a video of police and army officers torturing detainees that was recently released online as “deeply unsettling” Thursday and expressed concern that the detainees might still be subjected to torture and ill treatment.
“The uniforms may have been replaced with new ones but the behavior of the security forces seems to be the same,” the organization said in a statement posted on its official website.
“The Egyptian military authorities have committed publicly to creating a climate where the rule of law is respected after so many years of state repression. Now they must match their words with direct and immediate action," the statement read.
The international rights organization requested that the officers shown in the footage be immediately suspended pending an investigation the military judiciary ordered after the video went viral on YouTube.
“We welcome the announcement that that the military authorities are investigating this incident. The outcome of such an investigation must be made public and those abusing the men prosecuted," Amnesty International said.
The video shows about a dozen military and police officers beating and electrocuting detainees to force them to give confessions and information about where they allegedly obtained illegal weapons.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
