Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CAIRO484
2009-03-22 15:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
PRESSING THE GOE ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHEG #0484 0811515 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 221515Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1970 INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0431 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0278
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000484
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ELA, IO/RHS AND DRL/NESCA
GENEVA FOR CASSAYRE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM UN KDEM EG
SUBJECT: PRESSING THE GOE ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
RESOLUTION AND "DEBAUCHERY" CASE
REF: A. CAIRO 463
B. CAIRO 397
C. CAIRO 219
D. 08 CAIRO 1129
E. 08 CAIRO 739
F. 03 CAIRO 2078
Classified By: ECPO Mincouns William R. Stewart for reason 1.4 (b).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000484
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ELA, IO/RHS AND DRL/NESCA
GENEVA FOR CASSAYRE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM UN KDEM EG
SUBJECT: PRESSING THE GOE ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
RESOLUTION AND "DEBAUCHERY" CASE
REF: A. CAIRO 463
B. CAIRO 397
C. CAIRO 219
D. 08 CAIRO 1129
E. 08 CAIRO 739
F. 03 CAIRO 2078
Classified By: ECPO Mincouns William R. Stewart for reason 1.4 (b).
1. (C) On March 22, Economic-Political Minister-Counselor
underscored the U.S. position on the 2009 UN Human Rights
Council (UNHRC) Freedom of Expression Resolution to MFA
Deputy Assistant Minister for North American Affairs Amin
Meleika. Mincouns emphasized that the U.S. strongly believes
Canada, as the traditional sponsor, should be able to run the
resolution at the June UNHRC session. He also stressed that
the U.S. objects to resolution language on restricting
freedom of speech because of concerns over "incitement" and
"religious defamation." Noting that we had raised the issue
previously with the MFA Human Rights Department and that the
Ambassador had discussed it with the Foreign Minister (refs A
and B),Mincouns said the U.S. does not want the matter to
become a bilateral irritant. Meleika took note of the
concerns.
2. (C) Mincouns raised the case of ten Egyptian men arrested
in Cairo on January 2, who are still detained while facing
charges of homosexual "debauchery" (ref C). Mincouns noted
our concerns that the men have not been charged. Meleika
committed to looking into the case. Following our February 5
demarche on this case to Deputy Assistant Minister for Human
Rights Wael Aboulmagd (ref C),on March 10 we raised the
issue again with Aboulmagd who claimed that "homosexuality is
not illegal in Egypt." (Note: Per refs D, E and F, in 2003
and 2008, Egyptian courts used a law criminalizing "habitual
debauchery" to sentence men to prison terms for alleged
homosexuality. End note.) We will continue to press the GOE
to release the men currently detained.
SCOBEY
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ELA, IO/RHS AND DRL/NESCA
GENEVA FOR CASSAYRE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM UN KDEM EG
SUBJECT: PRESSING THE GOE ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
RESOLUTION AND "DEBAUCHERY" CASE
REF: A. CAIRO 463
B. CAIRO 397
C. CAIRO 219
D. 08 CAIRO 1129
E. 08 CAIRO 739
F. 03 CAIRO 2078
Classified By: ECPO Mincouns William R. Stewart for reason 1.4 (b).
1. (C) On March 22, Economic-Political Minister-Counselor
underscored the U.S. position on the 2009 UN Human Rights
Council (UNHRC) Freedom of Expression Resolution to MFA
Deputy Assistant Minister for North American Affairs Amin
Meleika. Mincouns emphasized that the U.S. strongly believes
Canada, as the traditional sponsor, should be able to run the
resolution at the June UNHRC session. He also stressed that
the U.S. objects to resolution language on restricting
freedom of speech because of concerns over "incitement" and
"religious defamation." Noting that we had raised the issue
previously with the MFA Human Rights Department and that the
Ambassador had discussed it with the Foreign Minister (refs A
and B),Mincouns said the U.S. does not want the matter to
become a bilateral irritant. Meleika took note of the
concerns.
2. (C) Mincouns raised the case of ten Egyptian men arrested
in Cairo on January 2, who are still detained while facing
charges of homosexual "debauchery" (ref C). Mincouns noted
our concerns that the men have not been charged. Meleika
committed to looking into the case. Following our February 5
demarche on this case to Deputy Assistant Minister for Human
Rights Wael Aboulmagd (ref C),on March 10 we raised the
issue again with Aboulmagd who claimed that "homosexuality is
not illegal in Egypt." (Note: Per refs D, E and F, in 2003
and 2008, Egyptian courts used a law criminalizing "habitual
debauchery" to sentence men to prison terms for alleged
homosexuality. End note.) We will continue to press the GOE
to release the men currently detained.
SCOBEY