PRISON VISIT: MOHAMED HESHAM S. ELDIN YOUSSEF

UNCLAS CAIRO 002271 SIPDIS DEPT FOR CA/OCS/ACS/NESA WES REISSER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC PHUM EG YOUSSEF MOHAMED HESHAM ELDIN SUBJECT: PRISON VISIT: MOHAMED HESHAM S. ELDIN YOUSSEF REF: CAIRO 09049 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. Name: Mohamed Hesham S. Eldin Youssef ¶17. ACCESS: FEBRUARY 24, 2005 ¶19. MISTREATMENT: NONE REPORTED THIS VISIT. ¶23. Remarks: Vice Consul and ACS LES visited Mr. Youssef at Liman Torah Prison, south of Cairo. Subject appeared to be in normal physical condition. He told us he is ambivalent regarding our visits because after we leave he is debriefed by Egyptian State Security officers. He added, however, that, on balance, the visits are useful, because they result in better treatment for him and the other American prisoners. ¶24. Continuing with allegations of former mistreatment by State Security, he said that in 2001 he had been tortured by them and "the Embassy had done nothing." Actually he has alleged torture on three occasions since 2001. Each time, the Embassy sent a Diplomatic Note to appropriate officials requesting an investigation into his charges and a subsequent report regarding their findings. Comment: To date post has never received a response to the requests. End comment. ¶25. He has been tried and convicted of terrorism, and added that he has not consulted his Egyptian attorney regarding the issue since September, 2002, because he feels it would be fruitless. Gray