---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 27 May 2001 10:24:52 -0000
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: News from Democracy Egypt: Prison Visit/ European Union Statement
The press of events have made it difficult to communicate as
regularly as we would like. On Friday morning members of Saad's
family were able to visit him in Tura Mazraa prison, including
Barbara, Randa, her husband Nabil and Saad's brother Ahmed. This was
an exceptional favor granted by the Attorney General and not yet
extended to any of the other prisoners. (We also understand that
those who received suspended sentences have yet to be released, and
their whereabouts is not known at this time.)
Saad is being treated properly, and complained only of the lack of
adequate exercise, which we have been assured will be remedied. Since
he is not seeing newspapers or mail yet, we told him of the enormity
of the local and international response to his sentence. His main
concern was the arrangements to support families of others who were
convicted with him, since many did not have family or lawyers present
in court when they were taken away.
In usual style, he said his seven year writing plan is already
outlined, but he needs more pens.
The family are not worried at all about his spirits, but health
concerns now are paramount. We have requested that a committee made
op of neuralogical specialists review his private physician's
findings and make urgent arragements for follow-up care.
You may send letters via regular air post to him at:
Dr. Saad Eddin Mohamed Ibrahim
Tora Mazraa Prison
Tora, Cairo, Egypt
Our profound thanks for the efforts of all supporters to reverse this
travesty of justice in a country we love.
Today's statement from the European Union Presidency follows:
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European
Union on the sentences against Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim/Ibn
Khaldoun Centre
The European Union is deeply disturbed by the harsh
sentences handed down by the Egyptian Supreme State Security
Court on 21 May 2001 against Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim and
staff members of the Ibn Khaldoun Centre. Dr. Ibrahim was
sentenced to seven years imprisonment on charges which
included accepting foreign funding without authorisation
(including from the EU) and for harming Egypt's reputation
abroad. The staff members of the Centre were given prison
terms of between two to five years. The European Union
monitored the trial as an observer.
The speed at which the verdict was reached raises concerns
that the Court did not take fully into account evidence for
the defence, some of which was submitted on the day the
verdict was given. This is particularly worrying since there
is no right to appeal the verdict on the substance of the
case, but only on procedural grounds.
Dr. Ibrahim is an Egyptian intellectual of international
repute. The European Union has co-operated with the Ibn
Khaldoun Centre for several years and has i.a. funded
women's projects and voter education. These activities are
in line with the principles of the Barcelona Declaration,
adopted in 1995 by the 15 European Union Member States and
the 12 Mediterranean Partners, including Egypt.
The European Union reiterates that it attaches great
importance to the development of Civil Society and that
support to NGOs and Civil Society is an integral feature of
its bilateral programmes with Egypt.
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Thanks for your efforts to make Egypt more Democratic.
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