E/CN.4/1995/34 page 36 his body was bruised. On 9 December 1993 the Government replied that he had died of natural causes. The Special Rapporteur requested further information from the Government which has not yet been provided. 177. José Ignacio Chauvín, aged 17, was arrested on 14 February 1993 in Quito and allegedly tortured. On 30 September 1994 the Government stated that due to insufficient cooperation from Mr. Chauvín, it was not possible to identify the policemen who carried out the arrest, the details regarding the place of detention or the vehicle in which he was transferred. The investigation was continuing. Egypt Information transmitted to the Government and replies received 178. By letter dated 4 July 1994 the Special Rapporteur informed the Government that he had received information according to which torture was practised routinely in prisons, State Security Intelligence (SSI) facilities, Central Security Forces (CSF) detention camps and police stations. The frequency of the practice was said to have risen sharply with the concomitant increase in political activities, especially by certain Islamic groups. 179. Torture was reportedly practised on all classes of detainees, but the practice appeared most common and severe as with respect to those detained or imprisoned for political reasons. Persons suspected of belonging to Islamic fundamentalist, Nasserist or Communist organizations were said to be singled out for mistreatment. Christians accused of attempting to convert Muslims as well as Muslims who had converted to Christianity, were also said to be particularly vulnerable to torture. 180. Torture was allegedly carried out to extract a "confession" or information; to administer discipline or punishment; or, in certain police stations, to perform a "favour" for influential persons. The methods of torture alleged included severe beatings, such as with sticks and other objects; whippings with electric cables while the victim was naked; suspension in painful positions for prolonged periods; application of electric shocks, particularly on sensitive parts of the body such as genitals, nipples, ears and lips; burnings with cigarettes; sexual assault; dousing with cold water; and dragging the victim across the floor so as to cause abrasion wounds. 181. In a number of instances of alleged torture, the victims were examined by medical officials of the Department of Forensic Medicine in the Ministry of Justice. It was said that even in cases in which forensic reports had established that the state of the examinee was consistent with allegations of torture, further investigation or prosecution was seldom pursued. 182. The Special Rapporteur also transmitted to the Government a number of individual cases. On 27 October 1994 the Government provided replies to these cases, summaries of which follow those of the corresponding allegations. 183. In the cases transmitted by the Special Rapporteur described in the following paragraphs, allegations of torture were said to be consistent with forensic medical examinations conducted by the Department of Forensic Medicine