Cairo October 30, 2012

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), denounces the assaults committed, on Sunday evening of October 28, by some individuals from the Islamic Group, Salafis and others, against a concert in Minya.

Such assaults resulted in the stopping of the concert after almost 20 minutes. In addition to clashes between the assailants and youth groups from El-Dostor Party, 6th of April movement and other civil powers. ANHRI also condemns the languid and the accomplice position of the policemen who did not try to interfere to stop the assault. The leaders of the policemen have only advised the organizers to stop the concert to avoid clashes with the assailants.

Some of the Copts and Muslims groups have organized the concert for Aid Al-Adha (Sacrifice Feast) in Minya. “From the Heart of Egypt and Hand in Hand” bands have participated in the concert in the frame of emphasizing the national unity.

The concert organizers have already obtained the approval of Minya governor who was supposed to attend the concert, while some of the governorate officials and members of Freedom and Justice Party, the political arm of the Muslims brotherhood group, have attended the concert.

The organizers of the concert were surprised when some individuals from the Islamic Group and the Salafis, disseminated publications warning from participating in the concert claiming its a missionary. In addition to, Christian hymns that are forbidden to be heard!!

After the beginning of the concert, tens from the Salafis and other Islamic trends gathered in front of the concert hall and tried to prevent the attendees from entering and repeated different chants threating to stop the concert using force.

While El-Dostor Party and 6th of April Movement youth have addressed them but the policemen who have been to the place did not interfere. The security leaders have only advised the organizers to stop the concert, which was actually took place as the fear spread among the attendees and most of them left quickly.

ANHRI said that “the proceed of some religious groups to use excessive violence to impose their will on the society and implement their sectarian perceptions as well as their hostile perceptions against freedom of expression and creativity using force, is without doubts a serious assault on the whole society. In addition to it is undermining the authority of the state and the rule of law.While the said event sets the alarm for all of us and brings in mind the disturbed images for the conducts of similar groups in Tunisia and Libya, so the laggard position of the security officers to address such acts repeats similar models to what happened in the above-mentioned countries, which would threatens to develop the situation to be as is in these countries. It requires from all of us to notify about the need to revise and modify the position of the state and its security bodies quickly regarding such serious violations against the security and the rights of the citizens to stop these practices before it become out of control”.

ANHRI calls for “investigating the circumstances of the fact” and said that “this fact has included number of legal violations which must n’t be ignored, if the Egyptian authorities are keen to establish the rule of law and address the chaos and security chaos. In addition to the necessity to begin investigating these violations and follow the perpetrators, there is no other way but to investigate the negligence of the police officers in performing their duty, define the reasons and impose the appropriate punishment on the negligent”.

ANHRI “called the civil society organizations and the political powers to adopt a clear position from this fact and its similarities, in particularly, as the recent period, has witnessed a semi-organized campaign against the civil pattern of the state and threatens to suppress the basic rights and freedoms of the citizens. The matter that requires to develop a collective effort to address the said campaign and to press the authorities to perform their duties; dedicated by the constitution and the laws in addition to the international treaties and covenants which oblige the State of Egypt to protect the rights and freedoms of the citizens from any domestic party who violates it”.

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