The Egyptian National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) held on Thursday its 74th meeting to discuss the human rights situation in the country over the past few weeks.

The meeting was presided over by the council’s head Mohamed Fayek and Secretary-General Mokhles Kotb.

“Although the council appreciates the current dangerous situation in the country due to the war on terrorism, it has discussed the arbitrary security measures taken against some citizens, which the council has highlighted in three main points,” the council said in a statement.

The council said that citizens have been arrested on streets and major squares without legal justification and without being informed of the charges against them, as well as being prevented from communicating with their relatives and family members, which constitutes a violation of the rights guaranteed by the constitution and the law.

The council also said that citizens were stopped and forced to display the contents of their mobile phones to policemen, which is a violation of several provisions of the constitution that protect the private lives of citizens and their right to private correspondence and communication.

“Several members of the council pointed out that the recent crisis exposed the deteriorating situation of the Egyptian national media, which has abandoned its mission as a local source of information, forcing segments of Egyptians to resort to foreign media, some of which lack credibility and professionalism and incite terrorism and violence,” the council said.

The council did add, however, that it is “satisfied with the release of number of people who were arrested, but expects these releases to include all who have not been involved in violence or incitement.”