Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CAIRO2008
2007-07-02 07:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR PRESSES PRIME MINISTER ON ARREST OF

Tags:  PHUM PREL KIRF PINR EG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0677
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHEG #2008 1830726
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 020726Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5893
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002008 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR ELA
NSC FOR WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2008
TAGS: PHUM PREL KIRF PINR EG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES PRIME MINISTER ON ARREST OF
"QURANIST"

REF: A. CAIRO 1938

B. CAIRO 1855

Classified by Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone for reason
1.5 (d).


C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002008

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR ELA
NSC FOR WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2008
TAGS: PHUM PREL KIRF PINR EG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES PRIME MINISTER ON ARREST OF
"QURANIST"

REF: A. CAIRO 1938

B. CAIRO 1855

Classified by Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone for reason
1.5 (d).



1. (C) In a meeting June 28 with Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif,
the Ambassador emphasized USG concerns that Amr Tharwat's
imprisonment was inconsistent with the Egyptian
constitutional guarantee of free worship and could pose
difficulties for bilateral relations. Ambassador noted that
Tharwat, a member of the "Quranist" movement, is an employee
of the USG-supported Ibn Khaldun Center, headed by democracy
activist Saad Eddin Ibrahim (SEI).


2. (C) Nazif appeared unaware of the Tharwat case, although
the Charge had raised USG concerns about the case twice in
recent weeks with the Foreign Ministry (ref A). Clearly
missing the point of USG concerns, Nazif responded that Egypt
allows widespread criticism of the President in newspapers
and television but that the law does not allow criticism of
religion. "Our culture has high Islamic content, more than I
would like. I get upset when I see all of these women in
veils, but you have to accept it and slowly get some to
change."


3. (C) Ambassador pushed back, noting that Tharwat had been
held for two weeks without charges and that he appeared
simply to be exercising his right of religious freedom under
the Egyptian constitution. Ambassador also noted that
Tharwat, along with the Ibn Khaldun Center and SEI, were the
targets of an increased smear campaign by the
government-backed media and politicians, evidently for SEI's
attendance at President Bush's June 5 Prague speech and
reported remarks to President Bush (ref B).


4. (U) Septels report other issues raised by Ambassador and
A/S Welch.
RICCIARDONE