Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05CAIRO5084
2005-07-06 16:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

EGYPT: AYMAN NOUR'S TRIAL POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER,

Tags:  PGOV PHUM KDEM EG 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 005084 

SIPDIS

NSC STAFF FOR POUNDS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT: AYMAN NOUR'S TRIAL POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER,
CLEARING WAY FOR PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

REF: A. CAIRO 4981


B. CAIRO 4917

Classified by ECPO Counselor John Desrocher for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 005084

SIPDIS

NSC STAFF FOR POUNDS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT: AYMAN NOUR'S TRIAL POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER,
CLEARING WAY FOR PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

REF: A. CAIRO 4981


B. CAIRO 4917

Classified by ECPO Counselor John Desrocher for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).



1. (C) Summary: At the third session of opposition leader
Ayman Nour's forgery trial, the lawyer for defendant number
three, Ayman Ismail Hassan, reiterated his client's
retraction of his confession, the prosecution claimed to have
a videotape of Nour advising a legal client to fake a torture
injury, and the defense team motioned for more time to
prepare their case. Judges granted the motion, adjourning
the proceedings until September 25. The long delay
apparently clears the way for Nour to pursue his presidential
campaign in advance of the September 7 election. Assuming
the GOE does not find another technical reason to disqualify
him from the race, Nour will still face an uphill battle in
posing a credible challenge to Mubarak. End summary.


2. (C) The atmosphere at the third session of opposition
leader Ayman Nour's forgery trial was considerably calmer
than in previous sessions (reftels),particularly because
Nour had urged his supporters to "boycott" the proceedings in
protest of security forces' "excesses" during the first
sessions. Consequently, although large ORANGE "Justice for
Ayman Nour" banners still hung in front of the courthouse,
only a relatively small number of supporters showed up on
July 6. Poloff, as well as diplomats from the U.K., the
Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Australia, attended the
session.


3. (SBU) The lawyer for defendant number three, Ayman Ismail
Hassan, reiterated his client's retraction of his confession,
first presented at the June 30 session (ref A),and again
stated that he had been coerced by prosecutors into
confessing and agreeing to testify against Nour. The defense
also asked the court to provide personal protection for
Ismail, who, his lawyer claimed, is in fear for his safety.
Speaking to reporters after the session, a member of Nour's
defense team claimed that without the testimony of defendant
number three, the government's case against Nour would
collapse.


4. (SBU) The prosecution claimed to have a videotape showing
Nour advising a client at his private law practice to make
marks on his own back so that he could claim he was tortured.
The prosecution said the tape proved Nour's lack of
integrity and his "willingness to commit forgery." It was
unclear who made the tape and when it was made.


5. (SBU) The defense team asked the court for a delay in the
proceedings, in order to allow more time to prepare their
case. After a short recess, the judges announced they were
adjourning the trial until September 25.


6. (C) Comment: The trial's adjournment, with Nour still
released on his own recognizance, apparently clears the way
for him to pursue his presidential campaign in advance of
Egypt's first direct, competitive presidential election on
September 7. Nour, as head of a licensed political party,
and without a conviction, should qualify to run - although
his candidacy will still have to be approved by the newly
formed presidential elections commission, which could
theoretically find another technical reason to object to his
candidacy.


7. (C) Comment continued: While Nour is the best known, best
organized, and best-resourced of the declared opponents to
President Mubarak, he still faces a gargantuan task in posing
a credible challenge. As a support vehicle, Nour's Ghad
Party, riven by internal fractures and sapped of energy and
resources following Nour's late January arrest, can hardly
hope to match up to the extensive patronage networks and
massive largesse of the ruling National Democratic Party.
Moreover, Nour's name recognition could be as much of a drag
as an asset on his campaign, as many in the Egyptian street
know him only on the basis of the unfavorable coverage he and
his legal case have received in the state media. End comment.


Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo

You can also access this site through the
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CORBIN