The General Directorate for State Security Investigations

The Mabahith Amn al-Dawla al-'Ulya, or State Security Intelligence (SSI), is the highest national intelligence authority in Egypt.

Organization

The SSI is a branch of the Interior Ministry in Egypt aimed at the protection and security of Egypt, although there are allegations that it serves more to protect and preserve the existence and continuation of the ruling regime. The SSI has many official bureaus that provide its public face: an "Investigative Bureau" in the Lazoghli section of Cairo, a "Supreme State Security Court" in Giza, a "Supreme State Security Prosecution" ("Niyabat Amn al-Dawl a al-'Ulya"), etc.

Notable personnel

* Hisham Badawi, head of Supreme State Security Prosecution

Allegations of torture

The SSI mission appears to be arresting and torturing the ruling regime's enemies and, in return, the regime apparently gives the SSI benefits and powers with no limits.

The SSI has been accused of torture by many organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and others. These organizations have also indicated SSI involvement in sexual abuse and humiliation of detainees (male and female) and for targeted persecutions of homosexuals, Islamists, and Christians.

Involvement in extraordinary rendition

Italian authorities investigating the illegal abduction of Egyptian-born cleric Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, also known as Abu Omar from the streets of Milan on February 17, 2003 have said that his final disposition, after a flight from Aviano to Ramstein and then from Ramstein to Alexandria, was into the hands of the SSI. At least one of the CIA officials named in the indictment, Robert Seldon Lady, is said to have accompanied Omar to Egypt, and to have spent two weeks in Cairo assisting in Omar's interrogation.

See also

* The Imam Rapito affair
* Academic Saad Eddin Ibrahim, subject to SSI investigation

External links

* http://diplomatictraffic.com/opinions_archives.asp?ID=113
* http://web.amnesty.org/report2003/egy-summary-eng
* http://web2.amnesty.org/library/Index/engMDE120111997
* Fausto Giudice, [http://www.tlaxcala.es/pp.asp?lg=fr&reference=238 «Extraordinary Rendition» - À la recherche de Mister Bob et des 18 salopards]