LONDON, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Amnesty International is urging Egyptian authorities to prevent security forces from harassing or intimidating candidates in the upcoming elections.
A report released by the organization Sunday said the warning is in response to fresh restrictions by Egyptian authorities on opposition activists that hampered their freedom of expression, association and assembly.
"The Egyptian authorities must uphold the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly and ensure that peaceful protesters are not arbitrarily arrested and detained. The rights of all candidates and campaigners should be upheld without discrimination," said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International's director for the Middle East and North Africa.
"Voters at polling stations should be protected by the Egyptian security forces, not intimidated or harassed by them as so often occurred during the last parliamentary elections in 2005," he said.
The organization said hundreds of members of the Muslim Brotherhood have been arrested since Oct. 9 when Chairman Mohamed Badie announced it would field candidates for election. Around 250 of the group's supporters are said to be still detained.
Ahead of the Nov. 28 parliamentary elections, Egyptian authorities have acted to restrict public access to information and undermine political opposition, the organization alleged.
Newspapers have been seized or destroyed and a dozen Egyptian satellite television channels have been suspended, Amnesty International said.
