Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CAIRO1424
2007-05-15 11:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

EGYPTIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS DECRY EGYPT'S

Tags:  PHUM PREL PGOV UNHRC EG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHEGA #1424 1351118
ZNR UUUUU ZZH ZUI RUEWMCE8444 1351103
O 151118Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
UNCLAS CAIRO 001424 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO/RHS, NEA/ELA, DRL/MLGA
NSC STAFF FOR WATERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV UNHRC EG
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS DECRY EGYPT'S
UNHRC CANDIDATURE

REF: A. CAIRO 1381

B. GENEVA 0513

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.

UNCLAS CAIRO 001424

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO/RHS, NEA/ELA, DRL/MLGA
NSC STAFF FOR WATERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV UNHRC EG
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS DECRY EGYPT'S
UNHRC CANDIDATURE

REF: A. CAIRO 1381

B. GENEVA 0513

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: A COALITION OF 19 EGYPTIAN HUMAN RIGHTS
NGOS HAS PROTESTED THE GOE'S CANDIDACY FOR MEMBERSHIP
(REFTELS) IN THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL (UNHRC)
AND EXPRESSED "AMAZEMENT" AT WHAT IT ALLEGED WERE
"FALSIFICATIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT,S TRUE STANCE ON HUMAN
RIGHTS" INCLUDED IN EGYPT'S APPLICATION. THE GOE HAS NOT
ISSUED A PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE NGOS STATEMENT. AN MFA
OFFICIAL HAS PRIVATELY TOLD US THAT THE GOE IS UNCONCERNED BY
THE CRITICISM. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) IN A MAY 14 PRESS STATEMENT, THE 19 NGOS (LISTED
IN PARA 7) CALLED ON ALL MEMBER STATES OF THE UN GENERAL
ASSEMBLY TO UPHOLD THEIR COMMITMENTS EXPRESSED UPON THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, WHICH REQUIRE THAT
THEY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD OF THE
NOMINATED STATES WHEN ELECTING ITS MEMBERS AND ARGUED THAT
THE CREDIBILITY AND COMPETENCE OF THE UNHRC DEPENDS ON
ELECTING MEMBERS WITH A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS AND COMMITMENTS.
ACCORDING TO THE COALITION'S PRESS STATEMENT, "INCORPORATING
STATES THAT ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR SEVERE HOSTILITY TOWARDS
HUMAN RIGHTS, THEIR BLATANT FLOUTING OF INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS AND NON-COOPERATION WITH THE UNHR TREATY BODIES AND
ITS SPECIAL RAPPORTEURS WOULD UNDERMINE THE CREDIBILITY OF
THE COUNCIL... (AND) WOULD HAMPER ITS ROLE IN IMPROVING HUMAN
RIGHTS CONDITIONS, NOT ONLY IN THE ARAB REGION BUT ALSO
WORLDWIDE." THE STATEMENT ALSO CRITICIZED THE INFRINGEMENT
OF "THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS ON
LEGISLATIVE AND CONSTITUTIONAL SAFEGUARDS OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AS
WELL AS THEIR PRACTICES THAT FLY IN THE FACE OF THE MOST
BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS PRINCIPLES AND VALUES."


3. (SBU) THE COALITION STATEMENT FURTHER ARGUED THAT
REPORTS BY EGYPTIAN NGOS, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
ORGANISATIONS, AND UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEES AND UN HUMAN
RIGHTS RAPPORTEURS, ALL "PLACE EGYPT AMONG THE WORST STATES
FOR DISREGARDING HUMAN RIGHTS. THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT,S
RECORD IS FULL OF SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS THAT HAVE

BEEN PRACTICED WIDELY FOR LONG YEARS."


4. (SBU) THE COALITION STATEMENT LISTS TEN POINTS THAT
CHALLENGE THE GOE'S STATED COMMITMENT (REF B) TO PROTECTING
AND EXPANDING HUMAN RIGHTS.

(BEGIN VERBATIM LIST OF TEN POINTS)

FIRST: THE PERSISTENCE OF BRUTAL TORTURE IN THE VARIOUS
PLACES OF DETENTION, AND THE IMPUNITY OF PERPETRATORS OF
TORTURE ESPECIALLY IN POLITICAL CASES. BOTH LOCAL AND
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS (INCLUDING THE UNITED NATIONS
CAT) HAVE PREVIOUSLY REAFFIRMED THAT TORTURE IN EGYPT HAS
BECOME A SYSTEMATIC AND ROUTINE PRACTICE.

SECOND: THE PERSISTENCE OF ARBITRARY DETENTION, GIVEN THE
CONTINUED STATE OF EMERGENCY SINCE 1981. THE NUMBERS OF
DETAINEES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE THOUSANDS, SOME OF THEM
HAVE BEEN DETAINED (WITHOUT BEING CHARGED OR TRIED) FOR MORE
THAN TEN YEARS.

THIRD: TRYING CIVILIANS BEFORE MILITARY COURTS AND DENYING
THEM THEIR RIGHT TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE A COMPETENT JUDGE. THIS
INCLUDED REFERRING A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE OPPOSITION
TO MILITARY TRIAL AND SENTENCING HIM FOR ONE YEAR IN PRISON
BECAUSE OF HIS EXPRESSED OPINIONS.

FOURTH: HARASSING NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS AND
RESTRICTING THEIR ACTIVITIES. THE LATEST OF SUCH INSTANCES
TOOK PLACE A FEW DAYS AGO WHEN THE OFFICES OF THE CENTRE FOR
TRADE UNION AND WORKER SERVICES WERE SHUT DOWN. PREVIOUSLY,
THE OFFICE OF THE EL-NADIM CENTRE FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL
REHABILITATION OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE AND VIOLENCE WERE BROKEN
INTO AND SEARCHED. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE DAILY AND
HEAVY-HANDED INTERVENTIONS BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THE AFFAIRS
OF NGOS. SUCH INTERVENTIONS INCLUDE VETOING NOMINEES TO THEIR
BOARDS OF DIRECTORS, DENYING THEM PERMISSION TO RECEIVE
FOREIGN GRANTS OR ACCEPT LOCAL DONATIONS, AND REFUSING TO
REGISTER NEW NGOS. LATELY THE MINISTRY MADE PUBLIC THEIR
INTENTION TO MAKE YET MORE RESTRICTIVE AMENDMENTS TO THE
AUTHORITARIAN LAW ON ASSOCIATIONS CURRENTLY IN FORCE.


FIFTH: WIDENING THE SCOPE OF CRIMINALISATION IN CASES
INVOLVING OPINION AND PUBLICATION, AND UPHOLDING THE
CUSTODIAL PENALTIES IN SUCH CASES. THIS HAS LED LATELY TO
ISSUING A PRISON SENTENCE AGAINST AN EGYPTIAN PRODUCER AT
AL-JAZEERA CHANNEL WHO MADE A DOCUMENTARY EXPOSING TORTURE IN
EGYPT. ALSO, AN EGYPTIAN BLOGGER WAS SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS
IN PRISON UNDER THE CHARGE OF DERISION OF RELIGION AND
INSULTING THE PRESIDENT, IN THE CONTEXT OF A WIDER HARASSMENT
OF BLOGGERS CARRIED OUT BY THE SECURITY SERVICES. THIS IS IN
ADDITION TO A NUMBER OF NEWSPAPER EDITORS WHO CURRENTLY STAND
BEFORE COURT FOR THEIR ALLEGED INSULT OF THE PRESIDENT.

SIXTH: THE CONTINUED RIGGING OF ELECTIONS AND DOCTORING THE
RETURNS OF REPRESENTATIVE ELECTIONS AND POPULAR REFERENDUMS,
AS WELL AS PUNISHING JUDGES WHO EXPOSED THE RIGGING.
MOREOVER, THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS PASSED BY THE
GOVERNMENT LAST MONTH WILL ENABLE MORE OF THE SAME
MANIPULATION OF THE WILL OF THE ELECTORATE.

SEVENTH: SUPPRESSING THE RIGHT TO PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION AND
ASSEMBLY, WHICH WAS EPITOMISED IN THE SAVAGE MASSACRE OF THE
SUDANESE REFUGEES WHO HAD ORGANISED A SIT-IN IN ONE OF THE
SQUARES OF CAIRO IN DECEMBER 2005. THE ATTACK ON THE REFUGEES
CLAIMED THE LIVES OF AROUND THIRTY OF THEM. THE UNITED
NATIONS HAS RECENTLY CALLED FOR AN INQUIRY INTO THIS
MASSACRE, AND THE GOVERNMENT REFUSED. THERE IS ALSO THE
EXAMPLE OF THE PHYSICAL ASSAULT AND BLATANT SEXUAL HARASSMENT
USED AGAINST FEMALE DEMONSTRATORS AND JOURNALISTS WHO WERE
PROTESTING AGAINST THE AMENDMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION IN 25
MAY 2005. THESE EVENTS, DOCUMENTED BY HUMAN RIGHTS NGOS,
CONSTITUTE THE BASIS OF A CASE THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING
EXAMINED BY THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES,
RIGHTS.

EIGHTH: AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION LAST MARCH IN A WAY AS TO
ALLOW THE SECURITY SERVICES TO FREE THEIR HANDS FROM THE
CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES THAT PROTECT THE RIGHTS TO FREEDOM
AND SECURITY OF PERSON, PROHIBIT BREAKING INTO AND SEARCHING
HOMES WITHOUT A JUDICIAL WARRANT, PROTECT THE RIGHT TO
PRIVACY, AND PROHIBIT SURVEILLANCE OF MAIL AND TAPPING PHONE
CALLS. IN THIS WAY THE NEW AMENDMENTS ENTRENCH THE
FOUNDATIONS OF THE POLICE STATE.

NINTH: INCREASING PRESSURES ON THE FREEDOM OF BELIEF, AND THE
RISE IN DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES BASED ON RELIGION THAT ARE
SOMETIMES BASED ON CONSTITUTIONAL OR LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS
OR COURT RULINGS.

TENTH: INCREASING PRESSURES ON THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE
JUDICIARY AND WIDENING THE SCOPE OF EXCEPTIONAL COURTS,
ESPECIALLY MILITARY COURTS, WHICH ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE
EXECUTIVE.

(END VERBATIM LIST OF NGO ARGUMENTS AGAINST EGYPT'S CANDIDACY)


5. (SBU) THE COALITION STATEMENT CONCLUDES BY NOTING THAT
THE "UNDERSIGNED NGOS REALISE THAT THE CHANCES OF MAKING AN
OBJECTIVE CHOICE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS
COUNCIL FROM AMONG THE ARAB COUNTRIES ARE ALMOST NONEXISTENT,
GIVEN THAT MOST OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THOSE COUNTRIES,
PERHAPS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MOROCCO, LEBANON AND
MAURITANIA, ARE CONSIDERED AMONG THE WORST IN TQ WORLD IN
THEIR DISREGARD OF HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS. DESPITE THE
DIFFICULTIES THAT THIS WILL INVOLVE FOR THE UN GENERAL
ASSEMBLY, WE BELIEVE THAT VOTING FOR THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT
WOULD IMPLY AN ENCOURAGEMENT FOR IT AND SIMILAR GOVERNMENTS
TO PERSIST IN THEIR PRACTICES AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS."


6. (SBU) THE GOE HAS NOT ISSUED ANY FORMAL RESPONSE TO THE
COALITION STATEMENT. AN MFA OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS AND MULTILATER ISSUES TOLD US ON MAY 15 THAT THE GOE
IS NOT CONCERNED BY THE STATEMENT BY THE NGOS; THAT GROUPS
SUCH AS THESE ARE ENGAGED IN "SELLING INFORMATION" TO
BESMIRCH EGYPT'S REPUTATION; THAT THE GOE HAS "EVERY
QUALIFICATION" TO BE A MEMBER OF THE UNHRC; AND THAT IT
EXPECTS TO SUCCEED IN ITS EFFORT TO WIN A SEAT.


7. (SBU) THE 19 NGOS THAT SIGNED THE STATEMENT INCLUDE THE
FOLLOWING GROUPS. AT LEAST NINE OF THE 19 ORGANIZATIONS ARE
PAST OR CURRENT RECIPIENTS OF USAID OR MEPI FUNDING FOR THEIR
WORK ON DEMOCRACY AND/OR HUMAN RIGHTS.

--THE CAIRO INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS STUDIES.

--THE HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF PRISONERS.



--THE ARAB PENAL REFORM ORGANIZATION.

--THE HISHAM MUBARAK LAW CENTER.

--THE ASSOCIATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS LEGAL AID.

--THE ARABIC NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS INFORMATION.

--THE EGYPTIAN ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
ENHANCEMENT.

--THE NEW WOMAN ASSOCIATION.

--THE CENTER FOR TRADE UNION AND WORKERS' SERVICES.

--THE NADIM CENTRE FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY AND
REHABILITATION OF THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE.

--THE EGYPTIAN ORGANIZATION AGAINST TORTURE.

--THE HABIB CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS.

--THE ARAB PROGRAM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.

--THE LAND CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.

--THE SHUMUU ASSOCIATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, CARE OF THE
DISABLED, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

--THE ANDALUS INSTITUE FOR TOLERANCE AND ANTI-VIOLENCE
STUDIES.

--THE EGYPTIAN ASSOCIATION FOR SUPPORTING DEMOCRATIC
DEVELOPMENT.

--THE CENTER FOR ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT STUDIES.

--THE GROUP FOR DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT.
RICCIARDONE