The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), has received new information and expresses its deepest concern regarding the following situation in Egypt.
New information:
According to the information received, on April 22, 2007, the police came to CTUWS headquarters in Helwan, Cairo, and ordered the closure of the office on the basis of an administrative order issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs.
The Observatory, preoccupied with this new infringement to freedom of association in Egypt, recalls that two branches of the organisation had already been closed down on March 29, 2007 (See background information) and that over the past few months CTUWS was the target of a smear campaign headed by the Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF) that consistently accused CTUWS of inciting workers’ strikes.
These events took place after the CTUWS, as a member of the National Civil Society Alliance to Monitor the Elections, monitored and followed up the results of the referendum which was made on March 26, 2007, on the amendments to the Constitution. The monitoring process included constituencies of Qena Governorate. Further, the CTUWS issued a report on the results of the referendum including the infringements and the interventions that took place in all the monitored constituencies.
Background information:
On March 29, 2007 the Naj-Hamadi branch of the CTUWS located in the Qena governorate, in Upper Egypt, had been shut down by Administrative Decision No. 44 issued by the Chairman of the City, General Al Sherbeery Hasheesh. In particular, the government had called for the discontinuance of the Naj-Hamadi branch citing that it was responsible for disruptive demonstrations and inciting strikes that took place in the Delta region of the country during the months of December 2006 and January 2007. Yet, although some demonstrators were CTUWS members, there was no evidence that the CTUWS did organise these strikes.
Furthermore, on April 10, 2007, the governor of El-Gharbiya had issued a decision to shut down the CTUWS branch in Mahalla city.
Action requested:
Please write to the Egyptian authorities and ask them to:
i. Put an end to all forms of harassment against CTUWS’ activities, repeal the administrative decision to close down its headquarters in Cairo and its two offices in Naj-Hamadi and Mahalla, and ensure in all circumstances that its members are able to carry out their work freely without any hindrances;
ii. Put an end to all forms of harassment against human rights defenders in Egypt;
iii. Conform with the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, in particular its Article 1, which provides that "everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels", as well as Article 12(1) that provides "everyone has the rights, individually and in association with others, to participate in peaceful activities against violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms";
iv. Promote and ensure freedom of association in Egypt and ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by Egypt.
Addresses:
· The Governor of Qena, Mr. Magdi Ayob Eskandar, Qena Governorate, Quenna City Hall - Quena, Fax: + 096 533 2640/2642
· President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, His Excellency Mohammad Hosni Mubarak, Abedine Palace, Cairo, Egypt, E-mail: webmaster@presidency.gov.eg, Fax: +202 390 1998
· Prime Minister Mr. Ahmed Mahmoud Mohamed Nazif, Magles El Shaab Street, Kasr El Aini Street, Cairo, Egypt. Fax: + 202 735 6449 / 7958016. Email: primemin@idsc.gov.eg
· Minister for Social Solidarity, Dr. Ali El-Sayed Al-Moselhi, Fax: + 202 7956387
· The Minister for Planning and Local Government, Dr. Othman Mohamed Othman, Infront of El Obour Building, Nasr Clity, Cairo, Egypt. Fax: + 202 349 6795 / 401 4705
· Minister of the Interior, General Habib Ibrahim Habib El Adly, Ministry of the Interior, El-Sheikh Rihan Street, Bab al-Louk, Cairo, Egypt, E-mail: moi1@idsc.gov.eg, Fax: +202 579 2031 / 794 5529
· Minister of Justice, Mr. Mamdoh Mohie E-din Marie, Ministry of Justice, Magles El Saeb Street, Wezaret Al Adl, Cairo, Egypt, E-mail: mojeb@idsc.gov.eg, Fax: +202 795 8103
· Public Prosecutor, Counsellor Maher ’Abd al-Wahid, Dar al-Qadha al-’Ali, Ramses Street, Cairo, Egypt, Fax: +202 577 4716
· National Council For Human Rights, Fax: + 202 5747497 / 5747670
· Ambassadeur Sameh Shoukry, 49 avenue Blanc, 1202 Genève, Switzerland, Email: mission.egypt@ties.itu.int, Fax: +41 22 738 44 15
· Embassy of Egypt in Brussels, 19 avenue de l’Uruguay, 1000 Brussels, Belgium, Fax: + 32 2 675.58.88; Email: embassy.egypt@skynet.be
Please also write to the diplomatic representatives of Egypt in your respective countries
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Geneva-Paris, April 23, 2007
Kindly inform the Observatory of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
Tel and fax FIDH: +33 (0) 1 43 55 20 11 / 43 55 18 80
Tel and fax OMCT: (+ 41 22) 809 49 39 / 809 49 29
Email: Appeals@fidh-omct.org