A/HRC/13/42*
page 171
Case 13 - Biographic details
Name
Mr. Azhar Khan*
Nationality/country of origin
United Kingdom
Gender
Male
Detention
Date of the initial detention
9 July 2008
Location of the initial detention
Cairo, Egypt
Grounds of detention
No charges were ever brought against him.
The authority(ies) involved in the arrest/detention
Egyptian intelligence officers
Site(s) held in detention, including sites of possible transit
Cairo Airport and a former prison in Egypt.
Total period of detention
Approximately one week (9 July to 15 July 2008)
Duration of secret detention
Same as above
Conditions and treatment
He was detained at the airport in Cairo and taken to a small room with approximately 16 other
people who were not allowed to communicate with each other. There were three uniformed
guards present. Two Egyptian intelligence officers in civilian clothes later took him to an
office, where he was asked where he was from and sent back to the first room. He was not
allowed to eat or go to the toilet for two days.
On the evening of 10 July, he was handcuffed, hooded and taken away at gun-point by two
guards. He was taken to an old prison in Egypt, where he was interrogated in English and
Arabic. He could hear people screaming and was told that his name would be number two.
Many other people were also kept there, lying on the floor, hooded and handcuffed. The place
was guarded by officers in civilian clothes and monitored by video cameras. The
interrogations took place in a separate area.
While waiting for his interrogation, he was put in stress positions while short electroshocks
were inflicted on his ribs and back. During the first two interrogations, an English
speaking-interrogator asked questions relating to the United Kingdom, including his previous
arrest and his personal life. He was held in this prison for five days, handcuffed and hooded.
He could hear other people being tortured, but could not communicate with anyone. On the
fifth day, he was taken away in a jeep, transferred to another jeep, and finally taken to a police
station. Upon arrival at the police station, a woman from the British Embassy informed him to
leave the country within 24 hours. His personal belongings were then given back to him.
During the time he spent in detention in Egypt, his family was unaware of his whereabouts and
the Egyptian authorities at the airport affirmed that he had left the airport.
Judicial Proceedings
He has not initiated any litigation.
Date of release
15 July 2008.
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