Date Type Case No Country Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply 28/01/11 BLR 1/2011 JUA Belarus Freedom of expression; Human rights defenders; Independence of judges and lawyers Alleged intimidation against an NGO and interference in the work of lawyers in connection with the 19 to 20 December 2010 demonstrations. According to the information received, on 12 January 2011, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee posted on its website that it had sent a letter to the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. Immediately after, the head of the department of non-commercial organizations of the Ministry of Justice had requested the text of the letter. Allegedly, arrested persons have been prevented from meeting their lawyers in private, and the frequency of visits had been restricted. On 5 January 2011, the Ministry of Justice sent a letter to Ms. Tamara Sidarenka threatening to revoke her license. On 10 January, a letter sent to Mr. Paval Sapelko informed him that disciplinary action had been initiated to revoke his license. On 4 January 2011, the Collegium of the Ministry of Justice endorsed a decision to suspend the license of Ms Valiantsina Bus’ko. On 10 January 2011, the General Prosecutor’s Office initiated a case against Mr. Mikhail Volchak. 01/02/11 (reply relating to procedural matters) 28/01/11 EGY 3/2011 JUA Egypt Disappearances; Torture Alleged enforced disappearance. According to the information received, Mr. Mohamed Abdo, born on 27 January 1984, resident in Alexandria, was arrested on 5 January 2011 at his home and subsequently disappeared. According to witnesses, State Security Intelligence (SSI) agents in civilian clothes allegedly abducted Mr. Abdo from his home and transferred him to an unknown location. Witnesses also report that SSI agents reportedly searched the victim’s house without presenting a judicial order and confiscated some personal items. It is alleged that Mr. Abdo’s arrest and consequent disappearance may be linked to his alleged participation in a church bombing attack in Alexandria against the Coptic minority, on the night of 31 December 2010. The fate and whereabouts of Mr. Abdo remained unknown. 28/01/11 SEN 1/2011 JUA Senegal Independence of judges and lawyers; Torture Allégation de délai injustifié pour engager des poursuites pour les allégations de torture. Selon les informations reçues, M. Hissène Habré est accusé d’avoir systématiquement pratiqué la torture durant ses huit années passées à la tête de l’Etat de la République du Tchad. En février 2000, M. Habré a été inculpé sur la base des charges de torture au Sénégal, mais les tribunaux sénégalais ont estimé qu’ils ne pouvaient pas le juger pour les crimes commis à l’étranger. En juillet 2006, l’Union Africaine a demandé au Gouvernement du Sénégal de poursuivre M. Habré et d’assurer son jugement par un tribunal sénégalais compétent. Le 9 décembre 2010, le Président du Sénégal aurait annoncé qu’il souhaiterait transmettre le cas de M. Habré à l’Union Africaine. M. Habré fait également l’objet d’une demande d’extradition datant de 2005 émise par la justice belge. Le cas de M. Habré a fait l’objet d’une communication antérieure (voir A/HRC/4/33, para. 43). 39 A/HRC/18/51 Mandate(s)