A/HRC/27/38 6. Egypt 23. On 24 December 2013, several special procedures mandate holders raised allegations of intimidation and reprisals by Egyptian State security forces against representatives of the Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social Rights, in the form of a raid and arrests, for their cooperation with the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the universal periodic review of Egypt.30 On 18 December 2013, around midnight, more than 60 police officers and security agents reportedly raided the offices of the Centre, holding staff at gunpoint. After damaging equipment and confiscating several laptops, officers arrested and blindfolded Mostafa Eissa, Head of the Documentaries Unit, Mahmoud Bilal, a lawyer at the Centre, Mohamed Adel, a volunteer, and three other staff members. The following morning, all of them, except Mr. Adel, were released and their property returned to them. It is alleged that during their detention, the men were blindfolded and handcuffed, were forced to stand and were beaten. On 22 December 2013, Mr. Adel was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately US$ 7,000), allegedly in relation to his participation in a peaceful protest on 26 November 2013. A reply to the allegations was received on 14 March 2014, in which the Government indicated that the legal measures taken by the security forces in connection with the arrest of Mr. Adel had no connection with the Centre or its managers.31 24. On 16 September 2013, three special rapporteurs raised allegations of reprisals against Ahmed Mefreh Ali Elsaeidy, country representative in Egypt of Alkarama, tasked with gathering information about alleged human rights violations in the country for submission to the United Nations human rights mechanisms.32 On 1 September 2013, an arrest warrant was reportedly issued against Mr. Elsaeidy, accusing him of being a member of an armed organization. On 6, 7 and 8 September 2013, officers of the State Security Investigation Service and the Central Security Forces reportedly visited Mr. Elsaeidy’s house, intimidated his wife and young son, and searched the property. At the time of finalization of the present report, no reply had been received from the Government. 7. Israel 25. Issa Amro, founder of Youth Against Settlements and winner of the 2010 OHCHR Human Rights Defender of the Year in Palestine award, delivered two statements to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-third session, on 10 June 2013, and participated in a side event entitled “Human rights in Palestine” on 11 June 2013. On 8 July 2013, after his return to the country, Israeli soldiers confiscated Mr. Amro’s passport and transferred him to the Israeli military police station in Hebron, where he was beaten until he collapsed, threatened with death and left handcuffed and lying on a stretcher for several hours before being taken to hospital. Mr. Amro was summoned to appear at the police station the next day and interrogated for several hours. On 25 July 2013, at least 12 Israeli soldiers allegedly invaded the Youth Against Settlements centre and harassed the persons present. The following day, Mr. Amro and three others were shot at in front of the centre and two days later several olive trees in the vicinity of the centre were set on fire.33 At the time of finalization of the present report, no reply had been received from the Government to a joint communication sent on 2 August 2013 by a group of special procedures mandate holders. 30 31 32 33 A/HRC/26/21, case EGY 19/2013. Ibid. A/HRC/25/74, case EGY 14/2013. A/HRC/25/74, case ISR 7/2013. 9