EGYPT BANS DEMONSTRATIONS IN MOSQUES AND CHURCHES

UNCLAS CAIRO 000464 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE NSC STAFF FOR PASCUAL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KIRF KISL KDEM PHUM EG SUBJECT: EGYPT BANS DEMONSTRATIONS IN MOSQUES AND CHURCHES Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On February 22, Egypt's lower house of Parliament, the Peoples' Assembly, passed a law banning demonstrations "inside or around places of worship." Although the law prohibits demonstrations in both churches and mosques, the law appears specifically to target the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) which frequently organizes protests in and around mosques following Friday prayers. Human rights advocates have criticized the law, expressing concern that the GOE could eventually use it as a tool to limit freedom of expression. Despite the inclusion of churches in the ban, Coptic Church officials seem unconcerned, agreeing that the law probably targets the MB and is unlikely to affect the Church. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) The law, reportedly drafted by the Ministry of Islamic Endowments, criminalizes "calling for or organizing" demonstrations inside and around places of worship. Demonstration organizers can be sentenced to up to one year in prison and fined up to LE 5,000. Participating in demonstrations inside or around places of worship is also now illegal and carries a sentence of up to six months in prison and a fine of up to LE 2,000. During legislative debate about the law (which the MB opposed),the Minister of Islamic Endowments, Mahmoud Zaqzouq, described the law as necessary to protect the sanctity of places of worship which he said "should not be turned into another Hyde Park." We are not aware of any GOE attempts to enforce the new law. ¶3. (SBU) The MB claims the law specifically targets its activities, and MB-affiliated members of parliament walked out in protest during debate over the measure. MB members and supporters often gather outside of Cairo's famous Al Azhar Mosque and other mosques following Friday prayers, and human rights activists agree that the law is probably focused on such gatherings. More generally, human rights activists have expressed their concern that the law, even if designed to control MB activities now, would eventually be applied more broadly to other demonstrations. ¶4. (SBU) In a recent meeting, a leading Coptic Church bishop told us that he agreed with the MB's assertion that the law targets the MB, and, therefore, the Coptic Church is not concerned about it. He added that Copts traditionally do not demonstrate in or around churches. Church lawyers were more apprehensive and, while agreeing that the law is not aimed at the Coptic Church, were concerned about the future implications of what they described as a "vague" law. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: There is wide agreement that the law is directed against the MB's practice of staging demonstrations after Friday sermons. As with much legislative and legal activity in Egypt, an assessment of the law's actual impact will depend on how, and if, the GOE attempts to implement it. The measure is, however, a further government warning to the MB that the government is watching its activities closely, and all the more as we approach the April 8th local elections. End comment. RICCIARDONE