Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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06CAIRO6746 | 2006-11-07 09:22:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Cairo |
VZCZCXRO1559 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHEG #6746 3110922 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 070922Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2453 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 0391 RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 0517 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY |
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 006746 |
1. (C) Summary: Two Egyptian tabloids with a history of spurious attacks on Egyptian human rights and democracy activists recently turned their sights on a senior Egyptian employee of post's Economic-Political Section, decrying his work on religious freedom and MEPI. Post sees no evidence at this point of any physical risk to our colleague, but we will continue to track this issue closely. End summary. 2. (C) On October 15, an editorial in the weekly Al-Naba'a attacked senior ECPO political specialist Karim Sobhy Awadallah, naming him as Copt who is disloyal to Egypt. According to Al-Naba'a's chief editor Hatem Mahran, Karim plays a key role in "forming an untrue picture that is full of lies and allegations about Government-Copt problems." The Naba'a piece emphasized Karim's links to well-known democracy activist Saad Eddin Ibrahim, and alleged that Karim had received an award from NEA A/S Welch for his work. Mahran also charged that Karim's support of Embassy small grants to Egyptian NGOs working on democracy and human rights "plays on national unity and courts the irregular and pro-Western ideological trends." Mahran concluded that "no-one knows what kind of blood runs in Karim's veins," and argued that Karim and "Coptic expatriates think that America will restore occupied Egypt for them." On October 22, Al-Osboa, another weekly, repeated the questions about Karim's loyalty to Egypt, noted his links to Saad Eddin Ibrahim and the award from A/S Welch, and charged that Karim was seeking commissions of 40 percent in exchange for steering USG grants to Egyptian NGOs. Poloff has spoken with several NGO contacts who noticed the article. They downplayed the import of the articles saying "They do this to everybody," and "Welcome to our world." 3. (C) Comment: The two publications in question are widely seen as low-circulation, sensationalist scandal sheets, and are allegedly used by shadowy elements of the security apparatus to plant negative stories about democracy and human rights activists. Saad Eddin Ibrahim is a favorite target of their ire. These and several other "independent" publications routinely bash MEPI programs, USG support for religious freedom, and related personalities and issues. In March 2005, for example, the announcement of five MEPI grants by then-Ambassador Welch sparked a flurry of sensationalist outrage. In February 2006, Roz Al-Yousef published an article attacking then-poloff Ian McCary, labeling him as a "suspicious" and "unobjective" diplomat, and in May and June, the yellow press seized on the issue of NDI, IRI, and IFES operating in Egypt without approved GOE registrations. 4. (C) Comment, continued: The most recent attacks on our LES colleague, a high-performing employee who works under the close supervision of post's political officers, are in line with this long-standing trend of dubious reportage, but they bear special attention because this is the first time such reports have singled out an LES colleague by name. Post is following up on this matter with appropriate GOE contacts to signal our serious concern about this development. RICCIARDONE |