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Articles - Egypt

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Egypt

Security forces launch unprecedented raids on human rights organisations

Egyptian security forces last week launched unprecedented armed raids on a series of high profile human rights and pro-democracy organisations, including the Cairo branch of IFEX member Freedom House, report the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), the Arabic Network of Human Rights Information (ANHRI) and Freedom House.

Egypt

Massive violence against protesters and journalists mars lead up to elections

A culture of fear and chaos permeated Egypt ahead of the elections, with street protests erupting in terrifying military violence, including the deaths of around 40 protesters and injuries of thousands of unarmed civilians, report the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) and other IFEX members.

Egypt

"Bloody Sunday" as security forces fire on protesters; journalist and blogger slain

The repercussions are still being felt after what has been called "Egypt's Bloody Sunday", when army forces and mobs in Cairo that were rallied by government TV stations killed at least 25 protesters, including one journalist and one blogger, report IFEX members. The members point to larger frustrations about insecurity in Egypt, with civil society calling for the transitional government to restore the rule of law and hand over power as the country heads to elections on 28 November.

Egypt

Mubarak-era media repression tactics back in force

Despite the change promised by the revolution, Egypt's transitional government, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), continues to employ excessive force and repressive laws against those who share information and opinions and who take part in peaceful demonstrations, leading three IFEX members in the country to liken it to the Mubarak regime.

Bahrain / Egypt / Kuwait

Governments attack Twitter activists

The governments of at least three Arab countries - Egypt, Bahrain and Kuwait - have launched investigations into or prosecuted Twitter activists, provoking other countries in the region to follow suit, reports the Arabic Network of Human Rights Information (ANHRI).

Egypt

Military rulers ignore plural voices

In a major setback for free expression and media freedom, Egypt's military rulers have limited the participation of civil society organisations, targeted sources of funding for NGOs, banned international monitoring of elections and reinstated the Information Ministry, report the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and other IFEX members. Frustrated with this lack of progress for social justice and civil liberties, thousands of protesters marched through Cairo's Tahrir Square yet again on 23-24 July.

Egypt

Military violates spirit of revolution by cracking down on critics

Journalists, bloggers and judges have been taken to court under Egypt's military regime for criticising the army's human rights violations during the uprising, its links to the Muslim Brotherhood and its lack of judicial reform, report the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) and other IFEX members. Fortunately, there is an antidote to this pattern of abuse - a coalition of rights groups and journalists are working together to put free expression rights on the national agenda.

Egypt

Record number of IFEX members call for Mubarak to respect free expression as attacks on media continue

A journalist who was shot by a sniper while filming protests in downtown Cairo died last week, becoming the first journalist killed in the recent unrest in Egypt. While police, supporters of President Hosni Mubarak and even the military violently attack eyewitnesses and journalists reporting on the streets, IFEX members are standing with their counterparts in Egypt and a record 55 of them joined other groups in calling on the Egyptian government to respect and protect freedom of expression and the right to information.

Egypt

IFEX members denounce Mubarak's unparallelled onslaught on free expression

The Egyptian government's attacks on journalists and unprecedented blackout of the nation's Internet and mobile phone services have crushed the rights of free expression, assembly and association and should be reversed immediately, say the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) and a growing chorus of IFEX members.

Egypt

IFEX members condemn fraudulent elections

Last weekend's parliamentary elections in Egypt were not free, say the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) and Human Rights Watch - with peaceful opponents and journalists banned or beaten, votes stolen, and monitors excluded. Nor did the government create conditions for free and fair elections, says the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and other IFEX members, noting widespread attacks on the media prior to election day on 28 November.

Egypt

Blogger Kareem Amer finally released

Kareem Amer, an Egyptian blogger whose case symbolised the struggle for free expression in cyberspace, has been freed after serving four years in jail on charges of insulting Islam and President Hosni Mubarak, report Reporters Without Borders (RSF), PEN International Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) and the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI).

Egypt

"Al-Dustour" editor sacked ahead of Egypt elections

The editor of Egypt's independent daily "Al-Dustour", Ibrahim Eissa, has been fired by the paper's new owners - the latest in a chain of dismissals aimed to intimidate the press ahead of Egypt's parliamentary elections next month, say the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Egypt

Protestors condemning killing of activist are beaten, jailed

At several public demonstrations held throughout June to protest the brutal police killing of activist Khaled Said Qasem in Alexandria on 6 June, dozens of protesters were beaten and arbitrarily arrested, report the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Egypt

ANHRI launches new publications about blogging and legal defence

The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) has recently produced several new publications, including a book that covers the critical role of blogs in the landscape of Egyptian dissent, and a couple of guides to legal self defence for journalists and bloggers.

Egypt

Activists take action against emergency law

The Egyptian government's recent two-year renewal of the decades-old emergency law - with only minor changes - has stoked the creation of a "national committee to build a future without emergency," reports the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR). According to Human Rights Watch and the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), President Hosni Mubarak, during his 2005 election campaign, promised to replace the emergency law with new counter-terrorism legislation. But since then his government has renewed the emergency law three times, most recently this month, and an anti-terrorism law has yet to be written in the books.

Egypt

Protesters and journalists assaulted and arrested

Egyptian protesters demanding an end to a 29-year state of emergency were kicked, beaten with batons and arrested by security forces in Cairo on 6 April, report the Cairo Institute for Human Rights (CIHRS), the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) and Human Rights Watch. At least 93 demonstrators were taken away in vans. Several journalists were also assaulted, their cameras seized. Critical journalists, writers and bloggers continue to be censored and imprisoned for their ideas and activism.

Egypt

NGOs call for human rights reform during UN review

During a United Nations Human Rights Council review of Egypt's rights record on 17 February, Egyptian NGOs, including the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) and the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR), called on the government to seriously address human rights violations. Two days later, Egypt accepted some rights reforms and rejected others.

Egypt

CIHRS seeks International Advocacy Researcher

The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) is looking for an International Advocacy Researcher to start immediately in its Cairo office.

International / Egypt

IFEX members concerned about candidate for UNESCO director-general

Negotiations to select the next Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) underway in France must deeply consider free speech and press freedom values of candidates, report Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) and other IFEX members. But according to RSF and ANHRI, the Egyptian candidate has been a key player for decades in government censorship, press freedom violations and arrest of bloggers.

Egypt

Obama should condemn free expression violations during visit

The Cairo-based Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) released its 2008 annual report on the worsening situation of free expression in Egypt ahead of U.S. President Barrack Obama's visit to the country.

Egypt

Government threatens to dissolve EOHR

The Egyptian authorities are threatening to dismantle one of IFEX's members in Egypt, the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), for having accepted unauthorised foreign funds to hold a regional conference on the right to access information, report EOHR, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN).

Egypt

MIEMBROS LOCALES RECUERDAN EL CENTENARIO DE PROTESTAS A FAVOR DE LA LIBERTAD DE PRENSA

Egypt

DES MEMBRES LOCAUX MARQUENT LE CENTENAIRE DE MANIFESTATIONS EN FAVEUR DE LA LIBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE

Egypt

LOCAL MEMBERS MARK CENTENARY OF PRESS FREEDOM DEMONSTRATIONS

About 100 journalists, human rights activists and media personnel gathered in Cairo this week to mark the "100 Anniversary of Press Freedom Demonstrations in Egypt 1909", an event organised by IFEX members in Egypt the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR). It was held in cooperation with the Arab Affairs Committee of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate (EJS).

Egypt

Egypt: Local members mark centenary of press freedom demonstrations

Egypt

FUERZAS DE SEGURIDAD DETIENEN A ACTIVISTAS DE INTERNET

Egypt

LES FORCES DE SÉCURITÉ DÉTIENNENT DES MILITANTS DE L'INTERNET

Egypt

SECURITY FORCES DETAIN INTERNET ACTIVISTS

Egyptian security forces briefly detained an Internet activist who belongs to an anti-government group - the third detention in less than a month of a web activist in Egypt, reports the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI).

Egypt

LE TRIBUNAL CASSE UNE PEINE D'EMPRISONNEMENT ET CONFIRME LES AMENDES CONTRE DES RÉDACTEURS

Egypt

TRIBUNAL ANULA SENTENCIA DE CÁRCEL Y CONFIRMA MULTAS CONTRA EDITORES

Egypt

COURT STRIKES DOWN JAIL TIME, UPHOLDS FINES AGAINST EDITORS

Four Egyptian newspaper editors convicted of publishing material that criticised President Hosni Mubarak and his top aides have had their one-year jail sentences overturned by a Cairo appeals court, report the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Egypt

INDULTAN A EDITOR ABIERTAMENTE CRÍTICO

Egypt

UN RÉDACTEUR AU FRANC PARLER EST PARDONNÉ

Egypt

OUTSPOKEN EDITOR PARDONED

IFEX members welcomed the presidential pardon of a two-month jail sentence against Ibrahim Issa, editor-in-chief of the independent daily "Al-Dustour".

Egypt

UN JOURNALISTE INDÉPENDANT EST CONDAMNÉ À LA PRISON DANS UNE AFFAIRE DE DIFFAMATION

Egypt

PERIODISTA INDEPENDIENTE SENTENCIADO A CÁRCEL EN CASO DE DIFAMACIÓN

Egypt

INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST SENTENCED TO JAIL IN DEFAMATION CASE

In a move that surprised rights activists, prominent independent journalist Ibrahim Issa was sentenced to jail for two months in a criminal defamation case. In a joint action led by the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), 37 members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) condemned the ongoing violations of freedom of expression in Egypt, as illustrated by numerous criminal defamation cases before the courts.

Egypt

SE AMPLÍA LA OFENSIVA CONTRA USO DE INTERNET

Egypt

LA RÉPRESSION DE L'UTILISATION DE L'INTERNET PREND DE L'AMPLEUR

Egypt

CRACKDOWN ON INTERNET USE WIDENS

As its blogosphere burgeons, Egypt is finding new ways to crack down on bloggers and other Internet users.

Egypt

CONTINUA LA COACCIÓN CONTRA LA LIBRE EXPRESIÓN ENTRE PROTESTAS

Egypt

LA RÉPRESSION DE LA LIBRE EXPRESSION SE POURSUIT TANDIS QUE LES MANIFESTATIONS SE MULTIPLIENT

Egypt

CRACKDOWN ON FREE EXPRESSION CONTINUES AMID DEMONSTRATIONS

The Egyptian authorities have intensified their onslaught on satellite broadcasters and journalists, the latest in a series of attacks against free expression and the free flow of information in a country once at the forefront of press freedom in the Middle East, say IFEX members.

Egypt

2007 FUE EL PEOR AÑO PARA LOS MEDIOS EGIPCIOS DESDE LA INDEPENDENCIA, DICE HRINFO

Egypt

2007, LA PIRE ANNÉE POUR LES MÉDIAS D'ÉGYPTE DEPUIS L'INDÉPENDANCE, DIT HRINFO

Egypt

2007 WORST YEAR FOR EGYPTIAN MEDIA SINCE INDEPENDENCE, SAYS HRINFO

Despite a burgeoning of bloggers and independent media outlets, last year was the worst year on record for the press since Egypt won independence in 1952, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRInfo) has found. And with many lawsuits launched at the end of 2007, the outlook looks bleak for the year ahead, says HRInfo.

Egypt

LE CIHRS REMPORTE UN PRIX FRANÇAIS POUR LA DÉFENSE DES DROITS DE LA PERSONNE

Egypt

CIHRS GANA PREMIO DE DERECHOS HUMANOS OTORGADO POR FRANCIA

Egypt

CIHRS WINS FRANCE'S HUMAN RIGHTS PRIZE

Hats off to IFEX member the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)! It's the winner of France's 2007 human rights prize, "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity", for its work in furthering freedom of expression in the Mediterranean region.

Egypt

AUTORES DE BLOG EGIPCIOS PLANEAN FESTIVAL DE VIDEOS SOBRE TORTURA

Egypt

DES BLOGUEURS ÉGYPTIENS PRÉPARENT UN FESTIVAL DE VIDÉOS SUR LA TORTURE

Egypt

EGYPTIAN BLOGGERS PLAN FESTIVAL OF TORTURE VIDEOS

Egyptian bloggers, often at the forefront of exposing human rights abuses, are planning an online festival of torture videos to run alongside the 31st Cairo Film Festival, from 27 November to 7 December.

Egypt

MIEMBRO DE IFEX HRINFO ATACADO; CUATRO EDITORES ENCARCELADOS

Egypt

LE GROUPE MEMBRE DE L'IFEX HRINFO EST ATTAQUÉ; QUATRE RÉDACTEURS SONT INCARCÉRÉS

Egypt

IFEX MEMBER HRINFO UNDER ATTACK; FOUR EDITORS JAILED

IFEX member the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) is again facing harassment through the courts for defending the right to free expression in Egypt and its tireless promoters.

Egypt

EDITOR ACUSADO DE DIFUNDIR RUMORES ACERCA DE SALUD DEL PRESIDENTE

Egypt

UN RÉDACTEUR EN CHEF ACCUSÉ DE RÉPANDRE DES RUMEURS SUR LA SANTÉ DU PRÉSIDENT

Egypt

EDITOR ACCUSED OF SPREADING RUMOURS ON PRESIDENT'S HEALTH

An Egyptian editor who reported rumours that President Hosni Mubarak's health is deteriorating faces up to four years in jail, report the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Egypt

DES RÉFORMES CONTROVERSÉES SONT APPROUVÉES TANDIS QUE LA VIOLENCE FAIT RAGE

Egypt

APRUEBAN REFORMAS POLÉMICAS EN MEDIO DE VIOLENCIA

Egypt

CONTROVERSIAL REFORMS APPROVED AMIDST VIOLENCE

Amendments to Egypt's constitution that human rights groups criticise as paving the way for a police state were approved by a majority of voters during a low turnout on referendum day on 26 March. Meanwhile, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) and Human Rights Watch reported that bloggers, activists and reporters protesting against the referendum were assaulted and arrested.

Egypt

ESCRITOR DE BLOG ENCARCELADO; EDITOR EVITA ENCARCELAMIENTO

Egypt

UN BLOGUEUR EST INCARCÉRÉ ALORS QU'UN ÉDITEUR ÉVITE LA PRISON

Egypt

BLOGGER JAILED WHILE EDITOR AVOIDS IMPRISONMENT

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) denounced the decision by an Egyptian appeals court on 12 March 2007 to uphold a four-year jail sentence against a blogger convicted of insulting Islam and the Egyptian president. Meanwhile, a prominent editor avoided imprisonment in another high-profile case.

Egypt

INSTAN A MUBARAK A REVOCAR LEYES PENALES DE DIFAMACIÓN

Egypt

MOUBARAK PRIÉ D'ABROGER LES LOIS PÉNALES SUR LA DIFFAMATION

Egypt

MUBARAK URGED TO REPEAL CRIMINAL DEFAMATION LAWS

Twenty-four IFEX member and partner organisations have signed a letter calling on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to follow through on a promise he made in 2004 to abolish prison sentences for all press offences.

Egypt

LA SOCIÉTÉ CIVILE EXAMINE MINUTIEUSEMENT LA CHARTE ARABE DES DROITS DE LA PERSONNE

Egypt

EOHR ANALIZA LEY DE PRENSA ENMENDADA DE EGIPTO

Egypt

L'EOHR ANALYSE LES MODIFICATIONS APPORTÉES À LA LOI ÉGYPTIENNE SUR LA PRESSE

Egypt

EOHR ANALYSES EGYPT'S AMENDED PRESS LAW

The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) has published a report analysing the country's recently amended Press Law, which has been criticised by press freedom groups for criminalising the defamation of public officials. "Journalism In Egypt: Caught Between Laws and the Government" outlines EOHR's position on the law and contains recommendations for reforming the law in line with international standards on free expression.

Egypt

NUEVA LEY DE PRENSA NO ANULA SENTENCIAS DE CÁRCEL PARA DELITOS DE PRENSA

Egypt

MÊME MODIFIÉE, LA LOI SUR LA PRESSE RESTE RÉPRESSIVE

Egypt

NEW PRESS LAW FAILS TO ABOLISH PRISON SENTENCES FOR PRESS OFFENCES

Despite President Hosni Mubarak's 2004 promise to abolish laws criminalising press offences, Egypt's newly amended press law still mandates prison sentences for insulting public officials in the media. The country's National Assembly approved the amendments on 10 July, one day after some 25 newspapers refused to publish and journalists rallied to protest the new measures.

Egypt

CRACKDOWN ON PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS

In Egypt, where a state of emergency law has been in effect since President Hosni Mubarak came to power in 1981, authorities can ban demonstrations and public rallies and arrest individuals without charge. In the past two weeks, scores of peaceful protesters in Cairo have been detained, raising calls of concern from IFEX members.

Egypt

OTORGAN A EGIPCIO PREMIO JERI LABER DE LIBERTAD PARA PUBLICAR

Egypt

UN ÉGYPTIEN REÇOIT LE PRIX JERI-LABER INTERNATIONAL DE LA LIBERTÉ DE PUBLIER

Egypt

CAMPAGNE EN VUE DE DÉPÉNALISER LES LOIS SUR LA DIFFAMATION

Egypt

CAMPAÑA BUSCA DESPENALIZAR LEYES DE DIFAMACIÓN

Egypt

CAMPAIGN AIMS TO DECRIMINALISE DEFAMATION LAWS

In Egypt, a coalition of editors, professors, human rights activists and union leaders have announced plans to launch a national campaign aimed at abolishing jail sentences for press offences, reports the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR).

Egypt

DECENAS DE PERIODISTAS ATACADOS DURANTE LAS ELECCIONES

Egypt

UN GRAND NOMBRE DE JOURNALISTES SONT AGRESSÉS PENDANT LA CAMPAGNE ÉLECTORALE

Egypt

SCORES OF JOURNALISTS ASSAULTED DURING ELECTIONS

The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have voiced alarm at attacks by Egyptian authorities on journalists covering the parliamentary elections. Since the first round of voting in the three-round election began on 8 November 2005, more than 50 journalists have been assaulted, detained or prevented from covering the polls.

Egypt

PREMIAN A PAREJA EGIPCIA POR MEJOR BLOG DE LIBRE EXPRESIÓN

Egypt

UN COUPLE ÉGYPTIEN SE VOIT ATTRIBUER UNE RÉCOMPENSE POUR LE MEILLEUR BLOGUE DE LA LIBRE EXPRESSION

Egypt

LA COUVERTURE DE L'ÉLECTION FAVORISE MOUBARAK, DIT LE CIHRS

Egypt

COBERTURA DE ELECCIONES FAVORECE A MUBARAK: CIHRS

Egypt

ELECTION COVERAGE FAVOURS MUBARAK: CIHRS

As Egyptians headed to the polls on 7 September 2005 in the country's first multi-party presidential elections, an interim report by the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) has found that media coverage has so far been biased in favour of incumbent Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt

UN JOURNALISTE TOUJOURS PORTÉ DISPARU

Egypt

PERIODISTA SIGUE DESAPARECIDO

Egypt

JOURNALIST STILL MISSING

Two years after the disappearance of Reda Helal, the deputy editor of the Egyptian newspaper "Al-Ahram", mystery still surrounds his whereabouts, reports the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Helal is among 20 journalists whose disappearances in Egypt since 1982 may be related to their work, says CPJ.

Egypt

MOUBARAK PROMET DE RÉFORMER LES LOIS PÉNALES SUR LA DIFFAMATION

Egypt

MUBARAK PROMETE REFORMAR LEYES DE DIFAMACIÓN PENAL

Egypt

MUBARAK PROMISES TO REFORM DEFAMATION LAWS

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has promised to reform the country's press laws, including eliminating prison sentences for defamation, reports the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Egypt

L'EOHR OBTIENT LE STATUT JURIDIQUE D'ORGANISATION NON GOUVERNEMENTALE

Egypt

EOHR WINS LEGAL NGO STATUS

The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) has attained legal recognition as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) after an 18-year legal battle. The news comes after two rights groups were recently refused legal status under a so-called NGOs Law, which critics say tightens state control over NGOs and severely compromises rights to free association and free expression.

Egypt

UN MILITANT DE LA DÉFENSE DES DROITS DE LA PERSONNE EST ACQUITTÉ

Egypt

ABSUELVEN A ACTIVISTA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS

Egypt

HUMAN-RIGHTS ACTIVIST ACQUITTED

Egypt's highest court has acquitted human rights advocate Dr. Saad El-Din Ibrahim and two colleagues of embezzlement charges, bringing a two-year legal ordeal to an end, report the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR), Index on Censorship (INDEX) and the Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN (WiPC).

Egypt

LA LOI D?URGENCE MUSÈLE LA LIBRE EXPRESSION

Egypt

LEY DE EMERGENCIA AMORDAZA LA LIBRE EXPRESIÓN

Egypt

EMERGENCY LAW MUZZLES FREE EXPRESSION

Egypt's emergency law, giving the government sweeping powers to suspend civil liberties, including freedom of expression, has been in force almost continuously since 1967. On 23 February it was extended for another three years on the grounds that anti-terrorism efforts warranted its use, report the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR) and Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Egypt

EOHR CELEBRA FORO PARA "ACTIVAR" SOCIEDAD CIVIL

Egypt

L?EOHR TIENT UN FORUM POUR «ACTIVER» LA SOCIÉTÉ CIVILE

Egypt

EOHR HOLDS FORUM TO "ACTIVATE" CIVIL SOCIETY

Civil society organisations must come together if they are to play an effective role in improving Egypt's human rights situation, said the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR) at a forum held last week. At the 26-27 July forum, co-sponsored by the International Federation for Human Rights and the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network, the organisation presented its annual report and brought together human rights groups to discuss common strategies and goals.

Egypt

PROYECTO DE LEY DE ONG PONE EN RIESGO AFILIACIÓN A IFEX

Egypt

SUR LES ONG MET EN PÉRIL L?APPARTENANCE DE CERTAINS GROUPES À L?IFEX

Egypt

DRAFT NGO LAW JEOPARDISES IFEX MEMBERSHIPS

The Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR) and the Cairo Institute for Human Rights' (CIHRS) fear their membership in IFEX could be in jeopardy if a proposed bill severely restricting the activities of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is approved by the Egyptian parliament.

Egypt

CONCEDEN NUEVO JUICIO A DISIDENTE

Egypt

UN DISSIDENT SE VOIT ACCORDER UN NOUVEAU PROCÈS

Egypt

DISSIDENT GRANTED RE-TRIAL

Dr. Saad El-Deen Ibrahim, the Egyptian sociologist and director of the Ibn Khaldun Center for Developmental Studies, has been granted a re-trial by the Cassation Court, report the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR), Index on Censorship (INDEX) and Digital Freedom Network. Last year, El-Deen was sentenced to a seven-year prison term on a variety of charges, including the embezzlement of donations, the dissemination of false information about Egypt abroad and bribery of public officials. Twenty-seven of his associates were also sentenced to jail terms ranging from one to five years, and the Ibn Khaldun Center was shut down, notes EOHR. The Cassation Court's ruling means El-Deen and his colleagues will now be tried by a different court in another district.

Egypt

LAS CONDICIONES DE LIBRE EXPRESIÓN" DICE EOHR

Egypt

DE LA LIBERTÉ D?EXPRESSION CONTINUE DE SE DÉTÉRIORER?, DIT L?EOHR

Egypt

FREE EXPRESSION CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE

The Egyptian government should "put an end to all security measures and practices that run counter to Egypt's commitments as a state party to international human rights standards", urges the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) in a recently released report.

Egypt

DE PRISON MET EN ALERTE LES GROUPES DE DÉFENSE DE LA LIBERTÉ D?EXPRESSION

Egypt

SENTENCIA DE SIETE AÑOS A ESCRITOR ALARMA A GRUPOS DE LIBERTAD DE PRENSA

Egypt

WRITER'S SEVEN-YEAR SENTENCE ALARMS PRESS FREEDOM GROUPS

Egypt’s state security court sentenced Saad El-Din Ibrahim, a writer, researcher and human rights activist, to seven years’ hard labour on 23 May, report the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), ARTICLE 19, Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of International PEN. Twenty-seven of Ibrahim's colleagues also received prison terms ranging from one to five years, nine of which were suspended sentences, reports EOHR.

Egypt

GRUPOS DE MEDIOS Y DERECHOS HUMANOS SE ENFRENTAN A REPRESIÓN

Egypt

S'EXPOSENT A LA REPRESSION

Egypt

MEDIA AND HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS FACE REPRESSION

Five more journalists were arrested on 16 April amidst the ongoing clampdown on the media, report the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the World Association of Newspapers (WAN). The journalists of "Al Ahrar" newspaper received six months imprisonment and a fine for publishing a series of articles and cartoons in 1997 that accused Egypt Air's chair of "mismanagement and corruption." EOHR "draws attention to the danger of the recurring phenomenon of imprisoning journalists." The group also urges the legislative council and the journalists' syndicate to "consider the necessity of reforming the penal code by cancelling all articles, including penalties, that restrict freedom to publish, as they are a repressive method against freedom of expression, access to information, circulating information...." Under Egypt's press law, journalists convicted of defamation face prison sentences of up to two years, reports CPJ.

Egypt

PROPUESTA DE LEY RESTRINGIRÍA AÚN MÁS LOS MEDIOS, DICE EOHR

Egypt

IMPOSERAIT DE NOUVELLES RESTRICTIONS À LA LIBERTÉ DE L?INFORMATION

Egypt

DRAFT LAW WOULD FURTHER RESTRICT MEDIA, SAYS EOHR

On 1 February, Cairo's "Al Akhbar" published a news item about a government drafted legislation that would amend Egypt's Publications Law, reports the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR). The article states that the law would subject "the printing of foreign papers in Egypt to the approval of the Minister of the Interior," says EOHR. According to "Al Akhbar', the drafted legislation also specifies that "the cabinet can cancel the license of a newspaper and stop its printing if what it publishes leads to: moral corruption, assault on religions, upsetting of public security, disseminating horror among people and causing harm to public interest." The law is currently being considered by the State Council, Egypt's main administrative and legislative body.

Egypt

CONFERENCIA DE EOHR EXAMINA LIBERTAD DE PRENSA

Egypt

EOHR CONFERENCE REVIEWS PRESS FREEDOM

The door must be opened in Egypt for political parties to be formed, journals to be published and for the independence of the media to be guaranteed, concluded participants at the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights' (EOHR) conference "Human Rights In Egypt on the Threshold of the New Millennium." The conference took place on 6-7 December in Cairo in commemoration of the 51st anniversary of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights. The event was coordinated in conjunction with many human rights and civil society groups and was widely attended by more than 180 people, including professors, lawyers, journalists and representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Egypt

UN RAPPORT DE L'EOHR CONSTATE LE RECUL DE LA LIBERTÉ D'EXPRESSION EN 1998

Egypt

INFORME DE EOHR SEÑALA DESCENSO EN LIBRE EXPRESIÓNEN 1998

Egypt

EOHR REPORT NOTES DECLINE IN FREE EXPRESSION IN 1998

On 12 July, the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) released its tenth annual report on the situation of human rights in Egypt in 1998. The report records the main developments in the human rights situation through three principle parts. The first part reviews "the most important laws, court rulings and procedures related to human rights in Egypt in 1998;" and the second part highlights "the most significant human rights violations." Part three lists all of EOHR's activities during 1998, including the monitoring and observation, support for human rights culture, and legal assistance provided for women. There is an additional section on EOHR's crisis last year when EOHR Secretary-General Hafez Abu Seada was arrested after the group published a report on torture in Al-Kosheh village, Sohag.

Egypt

EOHR RESUMES HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVITIES

In a meeting held on Friday, 18 December 1998, the Board of Trustees of the EgyptianOrganization for Human Rights (EOHR) revoked the decision taken on 2 December to suspendits activities, a decision that was taken in response to the fierce campaign of attacks faced by theorganization, its secretary general, officials and staff.. The decision to resume EOHR activitiesreflects the general will expressed by human rights defenders in Egypt, and by EOHR membersin its various branches all over the country, who asked the organization repeatedly to continue itsrole in defending human rights and monitoring violations of the rights of the people regardless oftheir religious, ideological, or political affiliation, as stated by the Egyptian Constitution andinternational human rights standards. On the other hand, on Monday 21 December 1998 theHigher Administrative Court accepted the EOHR challenge against a decision taken by theMinistry of Social Affairs denying the organization the legal status according to the associationslaw no. 132 of 1964. The Court decided to accept the challenge and a hearing was scheduled for7 February 1999.

Egypt

LIBERAN A SECRETARIO GENERAL DE EOHR

Egypt

LIBÉRATION DU SECRÉTAIRE GÉNÉRAL DE L?EOHR

Egypt

EOHR SECRETARY GENERAL RELEASED

On 6 December, Hafez Abu-Seada, the Secretary General of the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR) was released after being arrested and detained for five days in Egypt in what critics charge was part of a campaign to silence human rights workers. The Higher State Security Prosecution released him on bail of E 500 (US$146), after he was ordered to be jailed for 15 days pending investigations on charges of "accepting funds from a foreign country with the aim of carrying out acts harmful to Egypt; disseminating information and false allegations harmful to Egypt's national interests; and receiving donations without obtaining permission from the competent authorities." According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the arrest came after an investigation was launched into an EOHR September 1998 report entitled "Collective punishment in al-Kosheh village: Random arrest, torture and degrading treatment of citizens," and allegations made in the Egyptian press that financial support the EOHR received from the Human Rights Committee of the British House of Commons through the British embassy in Cairo was used to finance the September report. EOHR calls the allegations "misleading campaigns that intended to harm and discredit EOHR's image and the image of other human rights organisations to undermine their role and existence."