An Egyptian physiotherapist, Taha Mohamed Abdel el-Tawwab, is in hospital after being summoned for questioning at the State Security headquarters in Fayoum on Monday. He had come under suspicion after voicing support for Mohamed ElBaradei in next year's presidential election.

According to al-Masri al-Youm newspaper:

"An officer questioned him about his role in activities in support of ElBaradei, and whether he had called for action to protect al-Aqsa [the mosque in Jerusalem].

"Abdel el-Tawwab said the officer beat him, insulted him with obscene language, and kicked him. He said that the officer then ordered policemen to strip him and beat him yet again.

"Abdel el-Tawwad said he was then detained naked until the following morning when he was discharged, suffering from extreme fatigue. Some passers-by found the physiotherapist lying on the ground before dawn and took him to the Senoures central hospital for treatment."

More than 30 Egyptian lawyers have called for an investigation and the attorney-general has agreed to look into it.

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 11 March 2010.