Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood demands independent fact-finding committee

Amid a security crackdown on its members, Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood has demanded the formation of  to carry out surprise inspections of detention centres and investigate all violations committed against prisoners.

The Coup Crime Watch (CCW) group, formed by the Muslim Brotherhood to object to the ouster former president Mohammad Morsi, demanded the formation of a committee of elders of judges, led by justices Zakaria Abdul-Aziz and Ahmed Makki, to visit detention centers, document any irregularities or violations by either the detainees or prison administrators, and to receive any complaints from detainees.

In a statement yesterday, the CCW further demanded the formation of an independent fact-finding committee to carry out surprise inspections of places where detainees are being kept, to monitor the implementation of laws, regulations, and rights of detainees, and to investigate all violations committed against prisoners.

In addition to identifying violations of prisoners' rights, the CCW said, the functions of this committee should include determining the party or parties responsible for violations, the prison service or higher authorities which issued the orders for mass violations.

The CCW added that this Committee should then submit a report on its work to the general public.

It stressed that the prison service has become the most determined offender violating the law, international norms and conventions under the pressure of the bloody military coup leaders.

The CCW stressed that, during the investigation, prosecutors showed complete disregard to and disinterest in these violations, which raises serious questions about the position of public prosecutor toward this matter.

The CCW further stressed that military-appointed coup authorities continue to commit crimes against humanity.

Mohamed Badie, the Brotherhood's 70-year-old Murshid, or supreme guide, is one of hundreds of senior Brotherhood officials currently detained in a brutal state crackdown on the organisation that began on July 3, the day Morsi was ousted as Egyptian president.