A/HRC/31/57/Add.1 132. The Rapporteur takes note of the information provided by the Government on the draft amendments to the Egyptian anti-terrorism law, several provisions of which allegedly have the potential to severely undermine the most fundamental human rights and risk facilitating practices of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The Rapporteur also acknowledges the Government’s explanation that the bill is still in the drafting stage and subject to further review. 133. The Special Rapporteur wishes to remind the Government of Egypt of the absolute and non-derogable prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, codified inter alia in articles 1, 2 and 16 of the Convention against Torture (CAT) and Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The Rapporteur also recalls that, in conformity with its obligations under the CAT, the Government of Egypt is duty-bound to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. 134. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur recalls resolution 2003/68 of the Commission on Human Rights in which it “[e]ncourages States, while countering terrorism, to take into account relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions on human rights, and encourages them to consider the recommendations of the special procedures and mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and the relevant comments and views of United Nations human rights treaty bodies” (para. 6). 135. The Rapporteur strongly urges the Government of Egypt to take all the steps necessary to ensure that any amendment made to its anti-terrorism law fully comply with international standards regarding the prohibition and prevention of torture and other illtreatment. (g) JUA 14/08/2015 Case No. EGY 12/2015 State Reply: 11/12/2015 Allegations concerning Mr. Ibrahim Halawa, an Irish citizen currently being held in detention in Cairo on terrorism-related charges. 136. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government of Egypt for its reply, dated 11 December 2015, to the present communication. (h) 137. He regrets that, as of the drafting of this report, no official translation is available to the Government’s reply. The Rapporteur will make his views on the case known later on, after being able to read an English version of the reply. JUA 24/09/2015 Case No. EGY 13/2015 State reply: 21/12/2015 Allegations concerning the arbitrary arrest, incommunicado detention, torture, and ill-treatment during detention, and of a confession obtained under torture, of Mr. Hosni Talaat Mohammed Al Nagar ( ‫)طلعت محمد حسني النجار‬, Egyptian citizen. 138. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government of Egypt for its reply, dated 21 December 2015, to the present communication. 139. He regrets that, as of the drafting of this report, no official translation is available to the Government’s reply. The Rapporteur will make his views on the case known later on, after being able to read an English version of the reply. (i) JUA 28/10/2015 Case No. EGY 15/2015 State reply: 28/12/2015 Allegations concerning the torture and ill-treatment during detention, and of a confession obtained under torture, of Mr Hassan Mahmoud Ragab El Kabany. 140. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government of Egypt for its reply, dated 28 December 2015, to the present communication. 141. He regrets that, as of the drafting of this report, no official translation is available to the Government’s reply. The Rapporteur will make his views on the case known later on, after being able to read an English version of the reply 27