Egyptian state cracks down on anti-war activists

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report Wednesday August 20, 2003 18:23 by Donal Mac Fhearraigh - SWP Donal.MacFhearraigh at ucd dot ie 0876838746

These details have been taken from a GR Britain e-mail. I will keep you informed with updates when they occur. donal.macfhearraigh@ucd.ie

Below is a report of yet another attack by the Egyptian state on anti-war
activists. The magnificent response by the movement worldwide to earlier
waves of arrests in February and March this year underlined the importance
of international solidarity in defending human rights in Egypt. Please
protest to the Egyptian authorities as quickly and as fully as possible.
Please remember that a robust
international response to this kind of repression can have an enormous
impact, liberating activists from imprisonment and torture.

Alex Callinicos
(Globalise Resistance)





After 111 days in detention, ten of them on hunger strike, Egyptian anti-war
activist Ashraf Ibrahim was finally charged on 7 August. Alongside four
other activists - Nasser Farouq, Yehia Fakry, Mustafa El Basiony and Remoan
Edward Gendi - he stands accused of forming an illegal left-wing
organisation.

For anti-war activists in Egypt, the prosecution represents a worrying new
development. Like tens of thousands of others, Ashraf took part in the
massive anti-war demonstrations of 20th and 21st March in Cairo. When they
arrested him on 19th April, state security officers seized video footage of
the protests, which ended in brutal repression and mass arrests. The five
activists are also accused of "damaging the prestige and status of the
state" by contacting international human rights organisations.

Despite the campaign of arrests and torture which followed the
demonstrations of March and April, Ashraf and his co-defendants are the only
anti-war activists charged with serious offences. Under Egypt's harsh
emergency laws they could face years in prison if convicted.

The activists' defence campaign believes that the case is politically
motivated. A statement signed by 21 civil society groups says that the
prosecutors aim "to send a threatening message to political activists and
groups in Egypt."

International human rights campaigners agree that the Egyptian government
is trying to crack down on its political opponents. "Egypt's persecution of
Ashraf Ibrahim symbolizes the government's determination to punish
legitimate dissent," said Scott Long of Human Rights Watch, in a statement
released on 1 August.

Millions around the world were inspired by the protests against the war in
Cairo, now Egyptian activists need the support of our movement.

What you can do:

§ Write, email or phone the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the Public
Prosecutor and the Egyptian Ambassador (addresses below).
§ Write to your TD and ask him/her why the Irish government has friendly relations with a regime which denies its citizens their basic democratic rights.
§ Send messages of support from your trade union branch or community group
to info@irishantiwar.org or donal.macfhearraigh@ucd.ie and we will forward them to Ashraf's defence
campaign.

Write to:

His Excellency Mohammad Hosni Mubarak
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
'Abedine Palace, Cairo, Egypt
webmaster@presidency.gov.eg
+ 202 390 1998
Telegram: President Mubarak, Cairo, Egypt
Telex: 93794 WAZRA UN

Counsellor Maher 'Abd al-Wahid
Public Prosecutor
Dar al-Qadha al-'Ali
Ramses Street, Cairo, Egypt
+ 202 577 4716
Telegram: Public Prosecutor, Cairo, Egypt

His Excellency Mr Abdallah Fouad Hafez
Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt
12 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
Tel: 01-6606566/660 6718 Fax: 01-6683745