Anatomy of a State Security Case

The “Victorious Sect” Arrests

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Summary

Methodology

Background

Political opposition and violence in Egypt

Egypt’s State Security Investigations

The Emergency Law

Proposed New Counterterrorism Law

The Case of the “Victorious Sect”

The Announcement of the “Victorious Sect” Arrests

The Actual Arrests

Detention, Torture, and Confessions

Prosecution Dropped

The Timing: A Connection to Egypt’s Emergency Law?

A Larger Pattern of Abuse

Past Allegations of Fabricated Cases

Estimates of the Scale of SSI Detention

Abuse So Routine, It No Longer Shocks

The Weaknesses of Egypt’s Approach to Fighting Terrorism

Recommendations

Appendix: Letters to Egyptian Government Offices

Acknowledgements

December 2007 Volume 19, No. 9(E)