The most common methods of torture include electric shocks, beatings, whipping and suspension by wrists or ankles in a contorted position from a horizontal bar. Testimonies of torture victims refer to a variety of torture equipment such as electric devices, whips and the falaka instrument which is used to tie the victim's feet prior to being beaten on the soles of the feet.
In recent trials of police officers, forensic evidence has been presented to the courts noting that marks found on the bodies of detainees who had died in police custody were consistent with traces left by electric shocks and other forms of torture. For example, on 12 October 2002 the trial was opened against a police officer in connection with the death of Ahmad Mahmud Muhammad Tamam before Giza Criminal Court. An autopsy report of 13 December 1999 noted burns on the body of the victim, which were found to be consistent with marks left by electric shocks.
Despite overwhelming evidence that torture and ill-treatment are widespread and systematic, Egyptian authorities have admitted to only "occasional cases of human rights abuses". Trials of alleged torturers are mainly restricted to cases where the victim died, and only in criminal, not political cases. In the vast majority of cases, such as that of Umm Hashim Abu al-'Izz, no one is brought to justice, because the authorities fail to conduct prompt, impartial and thorough investigations.
In recent trials of police officers, forensic evidence has been presented to the courts noting that marks found on the bodies of detainees who had died in police custody were consistent with traces left by electric shocks and other forms of torture. For example, on 12 October 2002 the trial was opened against a police officer in connection with the death of Ahmad Mahmud Muhammad Tamam before Giza Criminal Court. An autopsy report of 13 December 1999 noted burns on the body of the victim, which were found to be consistent with marks left by electric shocks.
Despite overwhelming evidence that torture and ill-treatment are widespread and systematic, Egyptian authorities have admitted to only "occasional cases of human rights abuses". Trials of alleged torturers are mainly restricted to cases where the victim died, and only in criminal, not political cases. In the vast majority of cases, such as that of Umm Hashim Abu al-'Izz, no one is brought to justice, because the authorities fail to conduct prompt, impartial and thorough investigations.