Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CAIRO3413
2007-12-06 11:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
RIOT POLICE SURROUND VIGIL ON SECOND ANNIVERSARY
how-toVZCZCXRO5213 RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHEG #3413 3401157 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 061157Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7649 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003413
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PASCUAL, DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA AND DRL/NESCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM EG
SUBJECT: RIOT POLICE SURROUND VIGIL ON SECOND ANNIVERSARY
OF AYMAN NOUR'S DETENTION
Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003413
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PASCUAL, DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA AND DRL/NESCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM EG
SUBJECT: RIOT POLICE SURROUND VIGIL ON SECOND ANNIVERSARY
OF AYMAN NOUR'S DETENTION
Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs
1. (SBU) On December 5, we attended a candle-light vigil at
the Ghad party's central Cairo headquarters, marking two
years since former Ghad party leader and presidential
candidate Ayman Nour was imprisoned. (Note: Nour was remanded
to temporary custody on December 5, 2005, and officially
sentenced and imprisoned on December 24, 2005.) Several
dozen Ghad party activists, including Gameela Ismail (Nour's
wife) were temporarily barred from entering the building
housing the Ghad party office by 150-200 police in full riot
gear. We observed the hour-and-a-half long standoff between
the activists and police, with a cordon of police blocking
the building's entrance with their bodies and an iron bar
pushed against the door. Ghad party members inside the
building, together with those outside blocked by the police,
chanted slogans such as "Down with Mubarak!" and "Freedom for
Ayman Nour, freedom for the Egyptian people!" Police
eventually allowed the activists into the building, but were
physically rough in their jostling of demonstrators.
2. (C) Ismail and former Ghad party president Ehab al Khouly
both noted to POLOFF their appreciation of our attendance,
and their frustration at the government's heavy-handed
blocking of the vigil.
RICCIARDONE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PASCUAL, DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA AND DRL/NESCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM EG
SUBJECT: RIOT POLICE SURROUND VIGIL ON SECOND ANNIVERSARY
OF AYMAN NOUR'S DETENTION
Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs
1. (SBU) On December 5, we attended a candle-light vigil at
the Ghad party's central Cairo headquarters, marking two
years since former Ghad party leader and presidential
candidate Ayman Nour was imprisoned. (Note: Nour was remanded
to temporary custody on December 5, 2005, and officially
sentenced and imprisoned on December 24, 2005.) Several
dozen Ghad party activists, including Gameela Ismail (Nour's
wife) were temporarily barred from entering the building
housing the Ghad party office by 150-200 police in full riot
gear. We observed the hour-and-a-half long standoff between
the activists and police, with a cordon of police blocking
the building's entrance with their bodies and an iron bar
pushed against the door. Ghad party members inside the
building, together with those outside blocked by the police,
chanted slogans such as "Down with Mubarak!" and "Freedom for
Ayman Nour, freedom for the Egyptian people!" Police
eventually allowed the activists into the building, but were
physically rough in their jostling of demonstrators.
2. (C) Ismail and former Ghad party president Ehab al Khouly
both noted to POLOFF their appreciation of our attendance,
and their frustration at the government's heavy-handed
blocking of the vigil.
RICCIARDONE