EGYPT: SAAD EDDIN IBRAHIM COMMENTS ON HIS

S E C R E T CAIRO 001362

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC STAFF FOR WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2027
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ELAB EAID EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT: SAAD EDDIN IBRAHIM COMMENTS ON HIS
RELATIONS WITH LABOR ACTIVIST ALI AL-BADRY

REF: CAIRO 1283

Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) Subsequent to inflammatory, anti-GOE statements made
by self-styled labor activist Ali Al-Badry at an Ibn Khaldun
Center symposium on April 24 (reftel),and acting on Embassy
Cairo concerns about Al-Badry's bona fides, ECPO MinCouns and
Poloff met on May 8 with Egyptian-American democracy activist
Saad Eddin Ibrahim (SEI) to probe the nature of his
relationship with Al-Badry. Econoff had met with Al-Badry on
April 7, at SEI's request, to discuss Al-Badry's labor
activism. In the April 7 meeting, Al-Badry asked for USG
funding for his activities, although he admitted that he did
not have any registered, legal entity which might receive
such funding. Based on Al-Badry's presentation, we concluded
he was perpetrating a fraud, or working as an agent
provocateur, or possibly both. We also could not rule out
the possibility that SEI was more than an unwitting
collaborator in Al-Badry's overture.


2. (S) SEI told us on May 8 that he'd had some doubts about
Al-Badry's legitimacy. SEI also noted that, as is
occasionally the case with other marginal figures in the
Egyptian activist community, Al-Badry had been the subject of
rumors that he was collaborating with the GOE security
service. ECPO MinCouns told SEI that Embassy officers will
not/not have contact with Al-Badry due to our concerns about
his bona fides. SEI said that, based on his conversation
with Emboffs he was also inclined to distance himself from
Al-Badry. SEI ended the meeting by thanking Emboffs for "the
warning." Based on SEI's comments, we believe that SEI
shares our concerns about Al-Badry and will likely distance
himself from Al-Badry's activities.
RICCIARDONE