[JURIST] Amnesty International [advocacy website] Wednesday criticized Egypt for systematic human rights abuses of detainees in its police stations, military camps, and centers run by State Security Investigations (SSI). In a new report [text] the international human rights organization said:

Around 18,000 administrative detainees – people held without charge or trial under orders issued by the Interior Ministry – are languishing in Egypt’s jails in degrading and inhumane conditions. Torture and other ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests and detention, and grossly unfair trials before emergency and military courts have all been key features of Egypt’s 40-year state of emergency and counter-terrorism campaign. Some [detainees] have died as a result of torture.

The report called on the Egyptian government to amend legislation that allows for human rights violations and to promptly investigate any allegations of abuses in its detention system. Amnesty also urged Egypt to comply with international human rights laws and to disclose the names of any terrorist suspects that have been unlawfully transferred to Egypt from other countries. AP has more.

4/13/07 – The Egyptian Foreign Ministry [official website] on Thursday rejected Amnesty's allegations, saying the report "included inaccurate and biased information." The Foreign Ministry also said that the country has been making "real and continuous achievements in the field of human rights." AP has more.