Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Democratization in The Arab World
Democratization in The Arab World
Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies. June 2008 Vol. 16 No . 162
Youssef M. Ibrahim
7 Last Chance For a Legacy
Rami G. Khouri
9 Two Causes of Arab Political Incoherence
Hassan Elsawaf
10 Peace and Democracy in The Middle
East Go Together
- The Houthi Zayadi rebels and authoritarianism, he imitated northern Sudanese capital
the Islamic Reform Grouping President Sadat and announced Khartoum, they created their own
(Islah), in Yemen “his Islamism,” the adoption of extremist opposition organizations
- The Islamic courts, in Somalia Shariah, and found himself a which were also given Islamic
- The Islamic Front and the Muslim Brotherhood Islamic names, such as the “Justice and
3
Equality” group in the Darfur the fighting was still raging Muslim Brotherhood raised years
region. between the two sides. It is said ago transformed those who
Yemen witnessed and continues that some army officers started adopted it into becoming
to experience something similar. asking for special pay for waging themselves “the problem.”
Those competing for power again war on behalf of the President. Sometimes the slogan is raised to
discovered that their best strategy This led the President to establish fight non-Muslims, but more often
was to utilize an Islamic discourse special forces led by his son it is used to attack other Muslims.
and Islamic symbols and slogans Ahmed, to function parallel with Thus, the number of Muslims
in order to forestall the autocratic the army. Thus, the magic---in the whom Al-Qaeda has killed in Iraq
regime's attempt to outbid them in name of religion---began to turn exceed by more than ten times the
this regard. When Yemeni against the magician. number killed by the invading
President Ali Abdullah Saleh As for Hezbollah, its leader Mr. American forces.
announced the General People's Hassan Nasrallah said to me at the Is it the purpose of those who
Congress Party, a team composed end of January last year (an raise the slogan “Islam is the
of the opposition founded an interview which I noted in the solution,” to do so only to gain
opposition party named the article titled “Between Hassan power, and then impose an
Yemeni Congregation for Reform. Nasrallah and Thomas Friedman,” autocratic rule that oppresses both
As the conflict intensified, Saleh February, 2007) that his followers Muslims and non-Muslims?
instructed one of the tribal leaders, would not raise weapons or fire There is no doubt that there are
Badr Eddin Al-Houthi, to create an upon any Lebanese citizen, even if truly faithful Muslims that rush to
Islamic movement from the they were fired upon by other embrace this attractive spiritual
followers of the Zaidi sect. The Lebanese. Clearly he has not kept slogan without asking themselves:
goal was to counteract the Yemeni his pled ge. Fi ghte rs fro m where and when have those who
Congregation for Reform, which Hezbollah have fired upon other raised this slogan ever succeeded
includes most of the followers of Lebanese during the attempt of the in achieving a society without
the Sunni Shafai school of Islamic Lebanese government to take problems?
jurisprudence which is supported control of the communications Maybe they do not realize that a
by Saudi Arabia. Eventually, Al- network that Hezbollah set up society without problems cannot
Houthi realized his own position of around the airport, on the pretext be a human society. Perhaps a
power, and came to understand the that this network was necessary for society of angels is the only society
true dimensions of the religious possible future rounds of fighting without problems. The evidence
game in which Salah was using with Israel. Because Hezbollah shows that those who play with
him in the name of Islam. He had in the past entered into these religious slogans are only the
refused to continue in the role of a commendable struggles with Arabs, while the majority of
cat's paw in the service of Ali Saleh Israel (that led to Israel's Muslims are not Arab. Perhaps this
and decided to build up a following withdrawal from South Lebanon) is the reason that two thirds of all
of his own from among his own it now wanted to be recognized by Muslims in the world today live
tribe in North Yemen in a bid for the Lebanese government as a under democratically elected
their share in wealth and power. virtual state within the state. systems, while the last third---the
They (the Houthi tribe) wanted to Hezbollah is acting, whether Arab Muslims---lives under
be partners, not agents for or intentionally or unintentionally, undemocratic, authoritarian
clients of Saleh. However, like like current Arab governing regimes. Even though they have
most Arab tyrants, Saleh did not regimes who justify their said that “Islam is the solution,”
want any partners or any kind of authoritarianism on the pretext of Islam has been transformed into a
control or accountability over his preparing for a future struggle problem in the hands of Arab
absolute power. He thus ordered against Israel, though they failed to Muslims.
the army to punish Badr Eddin Al- liberate even one inch of the land
Houthi. A bloody battle ensued, of Palestine in the last 60 years. In
during which Al Houthi was killed, other words, Hezbollah is
but his brother took over requiring submission to the
Civil Society June 2008
4
Joel Beinin*
Undermining Mubarak
O utrage against soaring
inflation, the scarcity of
subsidised bread and discontent
monthly food allowance; and a
commitment to implement a
promise of free transport to work.
minister Ahmad Nazif rushed to
Mahalla al-Kubra to restore calm.
Nazif announced a bonus of a
with the regime of President Hosni These gains will raise the rates of the month's pay for Misr workers and
Mubarak exploded on 6 April in best-paid Misr workers to about 15 days for all other textile workers.
Mahalla al-Kubra, a major $185 a month. The minister of investment
industrial city north of Cairo. Carrot and stick promised better transport, special
Muhammad al-Attar told Al-Ahram The National Council on Wages bakeries for subsidised bread, and a
Weekly: “The city is burning. and the state-sponsored Egyptian revival of the cooperative store to
Thousands of demonstrators are out Trade Union Federation also began provide subsidised rice, oil, sugar
on the street, throwing stones, discussing raising the national and flour. The city's general hospital
chanting anti-government slogans minimum wage. They will certainly will receive new medical equipment
and defying the batons of the riot recommend far less than the $222 a and specialised staff. (Faulty
police, tear gas and bullets." Al- month proposed by the Misr equipment may have caused the
Attar is a member of the elected workers, which is still below the deaths of eight patients in Mahalla's
strike committee of the 25,000 World Bank poverty line of $2 a day cardiac centre in March.)
workers at the gigantic Misr for each person in a family of four. As the first Egyptian-owned
Spinning and Weaving Co, a public- The combination of carrot and mechanised textile mill (established
sector textile conglomerate and the stick induced the committee to call in 1927) and the largest industrial
largest industrial enterprise in off the strike but some workers were enterprise of the public sector
Egypt. In January, the committee not happy. Just after the 3:30pm nationalised in 1960, Misr has
announced that the Misr workers shift change, a few workers mingled enormous symbolic importance.
would strike on 6 April to force the with a crowd of mostly young boys Events there often set the pace for
company to fulfill promises made and women in the main square of wages and working conditions for
after successful strikes in December Mahalla al-Kubra. The leaderless other industrial workers. So the
2006 and September 2007. crowd began chanting: “Oh pasha, government was willing to pay a
This developed into a call for a oh bey, a loaf of [unsubsidised] high price, as it has in the past, to
nationwide strike to protest against bread costs a quarter of a pound.” In satisfy its workers.
the sharp increase in the prices of response, hired thugs threw volleys Call for a general strike
many basic foods, especially bread, of rocks to disperse them. The Mahalla workers' plan for a
and to demand a rise in the Uniformed Central Security forces national labour strike escalated into
minimum wage from $21 a month, fired tear gas and prepared to beat a call for a general strike endorsed
set in 1984, to $222. Between 2005 the demonstrators with batons. As by the Egyptian Movement for
and 2008, food prices rose by 33% the violence escalated, the crowd Change -- Kifaya (a multi-tendency
for meat and as much as 146% for burned the banners of ruling pro-democracy coalition), the
chicken, and this March inflation National Democratic Party Islamist Labour Party, the Nasserist
reached 15.8%. Severe shortages of candidates for the municipal Karama Party and the Bar
subsidised bread, the main source of elections scheduled two days later. Association. A FaceBook group
calories for most Egyptians, have The elections aroused little with more than 60,000 members
made things worse -- low-paid interest and had no legitimacy: also called on Egyptians to remain
government inspectors often sell hundreds of Muslim Brothers at home on 6 April. Some went on
subsidised flour on the black candidates were arrested in the strike and there were large
market. Rows in long bread lines weeks before the balloting, demonstrations on the steps of the
caused injuries and even deaths. The eliminating the main opposition. Bar Association and at several
cost of unsubsidised bread has On 7 April, violence continued universities. In downtown Cairo
nearly doubled in the past two years. for a second day when a crowd of there was less traffic, and reduced
On 2 April, security forces several thousand, much larger than activity in poorer districts such as
occupied the city of Mahalla and the the day before, gleefully defaced a the market area of Imbaba.
Misr mill, and pressed al-Attar, large poster of President Mubarak. But the general strike was
Sayyid Habib and other members of Security forces arrested 331 people, aborted by the arrest of nearly 100
the committee to call off the strike. beat up hundreds, critically political activists on the eve of 6
The company granted several wounded nine, and killed 15-year- April. Khalid Ali Umar, a lawyer at
Civil Society June 2008
outstanding demands: increases in old Ahmad Ali Mubarak with a the Hisham Mubarak Law Centre,
basic monthly pay to $65 for bullet to his head as he was standing criticised the call as a “premature
unskilled workers, $69 for high on the balcony of the family flat. act on behalf of the leaders of
school and trade school graduates, On 8 April, a delegation of high ineffective political parties and
and $74 for college and university government officials led by prime groupings”. He regarded organising
graduates; a doubling of the
*Joel Beinin is professor of history at Stanford University and at the American University in Cairo, where he is also director of Middle
East studies. This article is reprinted with permission from Agence Global
5
through text messages, emails, and professionals such as doctors, During 2007, strikes spread
FaceBook as “political university professors and dentists. It from the textile and clothing
opportunism.” is the largest and most sustained industry to workers in building
T h e 11 D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 4 social movement in Egypt since the materials, transport, the Cairo
demonstration organised by Kifaya campaign to oust the British after metro, food processing, bakeries,
began political ferment in Egypt. 1945. sanitation, telecommunications, oil
Breaking a taboo, demonstrators Primary impulse workers in Suez, the Helwan Iron
personally criticised Mubarak and The main cause is the neo- and Steel Mills, the National
demanded that he should not run for liberal agenda that is creating a new Cement Company in Helwan and
re-election in 2005 (he did), that his Egypt for 10% of the population many others. Private sector
son Gamal should not succeed him while disenfranchising industrial industrial workers were a
in the presidency (most Egyptians workers and white collar significant part of the labour
expect he will) and that the powers employees, especially those in the movement for the first time in many
of the presidency should be reduced d i m i n i s h i n g p u b l i c s e c t o r. decades.
(the constitutional amendments of Following Egypt's Economic In summer 2007, the movement
March 2007 expanded them). Reform and Structural Adjustment broadened to white-collar
Although Kifaya initially showed Programme agreements with the employees, civil servants and
much promise, it lost steam after the International Monetary Fund and professionals. The single largest
2006 Lebanon war. The Communist World Bank, Law 203 of 1991 collective action was the December
Party, the newly established Social stipulated that 314 public sector 2007 strike of 55,000 real estate tax
Democratic Party and the Trotskyist enterprises were eligible for collectors employed by local
Revolutionary Socialists have made privatisation. By mid-2002, 190 had authorities. After months of
some gains among workers since been privatised. Then, in July 2004, demonstrations, they went on strike
2004. But Kifaya has not been a big a new government headed by for 10 days and won their demand
factor in the labour movement. Ahmad Nazif took office. The for wage parity with their
Kifaya's support for a general economic portfolios were entrusted counterparts employed directly by
strike on 6 April was considered so to western-educated PhDs or the ministry of finance.
threatening that on 9 April George businessmen close to Gamal The workers' movement -- even
Ishak, a founding member of Mubarak. The government of more than the demonstrations of the
Kifaya, was arrested followed by 50 Gamal Mubarak's entourage intelligentsia organised by Kifaya --
others. The charges against Ishak initiated more sell-offs: A record 17 has popularised a culture of protest
were typical of the spurious firms were sold in its first fiscal year and is contributing to consciousness
accusations the Mubarak regime in office. of citizenship and rights far more
directs against opponents: “ This provoked fears about the successfully than the moribund
Organisation of a gathering in loss of jobs and unwillingness of secular opposition political parties
collaboration with others with the new private investors to pay long or the most active NGOs.
aim to commit crimes of aggression overdue social benefits, such as Addressing a rally after his release
against individuals, treasury and dividends in shares of firms owned from jail during the September 2007
public property; the use of force and by workers or contributions to strike at Misr, Muhammad al-Attar
violence with the aim of affecting retirement funds, which some said: “I want the whole government
the performance of public public sector managers had to resign -- I want the Mubarak
authorities.” neglected for as long as a decade. regime to come to an end. Politics
Tw e n t y - f i v e a c a d e m i c s Real wages have declined sharply, and workers' rights are inseparable.
organised by Kifaya travelled to and the gap between the rich and the Work is politics. What we are
Mahalla on 11 April to visit families poor has widened. A common witnessing here -- this is as
of the injured. They were detained estimate is that 40% of Egyptians democratic as it gets.”
20km from the city and prevented live below the poverty line. This strike ended after the
from entering. This suggests that the These conditions have impelled workers forced the government to
Mubarak regime is escalating the unprecedented strikes and negotiate with their elected strike
repressive measures against its collective action since 2004. There committee; the tax collectors' strike
secular opponents besides were 74 collective actions in the was ended likewise. These are
repressing the Muslim Brothers. first half of 2004 and 191 after the significant political defeats for the
Their successful strikes installation of the Nazif government state-sponsored trade union
projected the Mahalla workers into in July. Some 25% were in the federation, which many hope are
the leadership of a massive upsurge private sector, more than before. On steps towards establishing an
of working class collective action, 2 March 2008, the liberal daily Al- independent trade union. While
Civil Society June 2008
in which as many as 400,000 have Misri al-Yawm reported 222 strikes, there is not yet an adequate
occupied factories, gone on strike, factory occupations and protests organisational vehicle to express
demonstrated or taken other during 2006. Egyptian Workers and this new culture of protest, it has
collective action since 2004. Trade Union Watch reported more radically undermined the
Industrial workers have inspired than 580 episodes of industrial legitimacy of the Mubarak regime.
strikes or strike threats by action in 2007.
6
Youssef M. Ibrahim*
Strengthening tribes tends to important insights into what might state collapse at the hands of
splinter national cohesion and happen when Arabs are given a foreign armies are equally
weaken the power and even the chance to engage in democratic deplorable, but they remain
legitimacy of the central state -- a politics -- along with the dangers of concurrently active in the Middle
state that was painstakingly if autocratic leaders perpetually East today.
hastily created in much of the Arab controlling and limiting democratic
*Rami G. Khouri is Editor-at-large of The Daily Star, and Director of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs
at the American University of Beirut, in Beirut, Lebanon. This article is reprinted with permission from Agence Global.
9
Hassan Elsawaf
Peace and Democracy in The Middle
East Go Together
The Middle East is an settlement is based on
enigma. For sixty years the reconciling two incompatible
region has been cursed with sides under a bogus umbrella of
virtually uninterrupted violence American brokerage and in an
in a manner reminiscent of an utterly superficial manner. The
age, several centuries ago, in two sides are politically
which the world was fragmented, different, and therefore
with many regions totally cut-off incapable of seeing eye-to-eye,
from the outside world and little ruling out the chance of reaching
chance of foreign awareness, let a l a s t i n g a g r e e m e n t . To
alone intervention. It was then elaborate, one side has an elected Hassan Elsawaf
ICDS Board of Trustees
that one heard of one-hundred- government answerable to its
year wars and similar people and genuinely motivated An interesting observation is
anachronistic phrases. Today's to attaining its aim. The other whether, over the course of
world has changed with a more consists of a sordid cabal of history, there has been a single
serious attitude towards corrupt and vicious dictators, incident of two full-fledged
spreading the doctrine of answerable to no one and democracies that have not
peaceful coexistence and more motivated solely by the pursuit of managed to resolve their
dedication to the policy of self-interest. differences peacefully and have
patching up differences once a The philosophy of making elected to go to war instead.
war is over. In terms of animosity peace deals or avoiding warfare Naturally, the definition of a 'full
and festering wounds, there are or doing anything related to fledged' democracy entails more
other regions such as Manchuria improving the quality of life of than free elections, Hitler or
and Armenia where matters the people is based on total Hamas-style, but covers a
were even worse than the Middle disclosure and accountability of br oa de r r a n g e o f i s s u e s ,
East; yet nowhere has the strife governments, traits that must including freedom of speech,
lingered for so long. It has cover the official hierarchical respect for basic rights, press
actually become a joke to hear of ladder all the way to the very top; freedom, independent judiciary
a new Middle East peace especially at the very top. A and other aspects that
initiative or another travesty of a peace agreement must observe collectively give credence to the
peace conference, clearly headed the needs of the people and not be concept of a democracy.
nowhere. confined to the convenience of In my reading of history,
Why is the situation in the the ruler. Under the sinister there is not a single example of
Middle East so complex? shadow of the typical Arab war erupting from two
Every time a new despot, it is not easy to expect democratic sides. If you agree,
Israeli/Palestinian peace that to happen for many years to the theory we can establish is that
initiative is launched (the come. democratic nations do not go to
Palestinian side always Why do countries go to war? war and that it takes at least one
incorporating a wider Arab Invariably, it is to satisfy the side to be undemocratically ruled
participation), the international whims of the ruler, irrespective for a war to break out.
community, spearheaded by one of his avowed intentions. In an The United States might
American administration after open and free society, a ruler appear to stand out as a
another, seems to believe that must provide
this time they have finally got it v i a b l e
right. Without exception, they justification for
fail miserably and will continue going to war and
to do so until they cease to live in can be turned
denial: peace negotiations with dow n by his
Civil Society June 2008
10
conspicuous aberration since it is survives him if he is
a democracy, yet has initiated overthrown.
several wars with countries such Mubarak is but an
as Korea, Vietnam, Granada, extension of Sadat
Nicaragua, Panama and, more and not inclined to
recently, Iraq. That must, stretching his neck
however, be seen in its proper o u t , w h i c h
context in which it is clear that all somewhat explains
those wars were waged under the official
liberation claims, whether we upholding of the
care to believe that or not, and, flimsy peace deal,
more importantly, that the albeit being
American occupier always enforced reluctantly
departed as soon as possible. by an aloof that the longer the feeble and
Moreover, not one country being Egyptian side, half-hearted peace efforts go on
attacked was democratically effectively paying no more than under existing conditions, the
ruled. So, for those looking for lip service to a loathsome treaty. more difficult the attainment of
loopholes, sorry. Under a radical Islamist regime, results, given the growing
A good example adding the whole thing wouldn't last a proliferation of oppression-
weight to the viability of the week. induced radical forces
theory is how a free Egyptian Apart from the political relentlessly sprouting from hard-
parliament, back in 1967, would schism between Israel and its l i n e r e g i m e s .
have reacted to Nasser's Arab neighbours, there remains a It would be wrong to absolve
foolhardy and reckless war- serious obstacle to concluding a Israel of blame since its
precipitating bluff that inevitably fair and comprehensive peace draconian policies with the
had to backfire, altering the treaty: it is not in the interest of hapless people of Palestine go a
course of history. It is safe to most Arab autocrats to have a long way in fomenting the
argue that he would never have conflict-free Middle East! rancour and bitterness spewing
been allowed to get away with Overlooked by many the region. The Israelis also stand
guilty of deluding themselves
what he did. observers is the outrageous
into believing they can have real
Back to the issue at hand, in reality that, after the cessation of
peace with autocratic regimes
1979 Sadat signed a 'peace treaty' hostilities in the region, some
festooned with weaknesses and
with Israel. Begin, the Israeli Arab despots would rapidly lose
with livid opponents adamant on
prime minister at the time, had to their raison d'etre. Faced with
abrogating any existing treaty as
take it back to his Knesset for growing unrest and instability
soon as they get the chance.
ratification before it could come among their peoples, they are However, Israeli hooliganism
into force. He did not possess the happy to resort to the convenient plays but a minor role in the huge
right to single-handedly approve excuse of being hindered in their rift between the warring factions.
the deal, which was thoroughly allegedly noble quest to bring As long as the Arabs are
scrutinised before passing. about progress and prosperity by ruled by tyrants, there is no way
Sadat, with no such hurdle to the enormous difficulties of real peace will ever be achieved!
overcome, perfunctorily securing peace and by the In short, if you are serious
obtained subsequent ratification turmoil created by an implacable about your valedictory peace
from his rubber-stamp Israel. Then there is the bigger efforts, Mr. U.S. President,
parliament, requiring no more con act used to good effect with whoever you may be, please
than his word at Camp David to the outside world to portray the focus on the only plausible way
commit Egypt. Opposition to an peace-maker image in order to to do it: convert the Arab
Egyptian strongman by his make gullible congressmen countries to genuine
minions is never on the table. To believe that a Middle East democracies. Then -and only
this day, however, few Egyptians without, say, Mr. Mubarak, then- would you have no cause
feel less hatred towards Israel would be catastrophic in terms of for concern, because radicalism
than they did prior to the 'peace future peace prospects. would swiftly abate and peace
Civil Society June 2008
treaty' and even fewer regard it as The harsh truth is that real will follow on a silver platter.
a document reflecting the peace would foil many an Arab Otherwise, you are wasting
sentiments of the Egyptian tyrant's longevity plans! everybody's time and would be
public. A peace treaty signed by a Even harsher to come to well advised to mind your own
dictator is precarious and rarely terms with is the daunting reality business!
11
Egyptian Writer Ahmad Al-Aswani:
It's “Open Season” on Egypt's Copts
Ahmad Al-Aswani, an disappear, and are not brought [to Unity, and the sheikh and the
E g y p t i a n w r i t e r, w r i t e s trial in] any court, and no one priest embrace. "The matter is
extensively on political topics hears about them afterward." concluded with no investigation
from a critical and reformist "Mass Incidents... Follow a and no trial for anyone - as if
perspective. In the following Friday Sermon Inciting nothing had happened. [All then]
essay, posted June 7, 2008 on the [Worshipers] to Burn the wait for the opening of the next
liberal website Aafaq.org, [1] he Homes of the Village's Copts” season, and for the recurrence of
focuses on the escalating series "[In] mass incidents, such as the same events, the same
of physical attacks on members marches after Friday prayers - responses, and a promise that
of the Coptic minority in Egypt. which follow a Friday sermon parliament's new unified law for
The following are excerpts from inciting [worshipers] to burn the houses of worship will solve all
the article: homes of the villages Copts, on problems - in the knowledge that
"What Is Happening to Our the pretext that these 'infidels' this law does not yet exist."
Coptic Brothers... Is No seek to turn one such home into a "Prominent Copts
Longer a Matter of Sporadic church that will pollute the pure Vo l u n t a r i l y D e n y A n y
Incidents” village - the [allegations that Suspicion that Sectarianism Is
"I hope that I have not sparked the incident] are later Fueling Recent Events”
exaggerated in using the word proven untrue. [This proof, "[Thus] continues the cycle of
'[open] season' for what is however, comes] after houses, sad events in Egypt, without end
happening in Egypt to our Coptic shops, and cars have been - and one saddening thing is that
brothers, but it is the closest burned, [and] after police and some prominent Copts
description to what is happening. government officials arrive to voluntarily deny any suspicion
It is no longer a matter of make sure that the burning is that sectarianism is fueling
sporadic incidents, but an complete. recent events [even] before the
uninterrupted series of events. "Then the media, as usual, truth becomes known. I do not
"Today, you read of the incident accuses rumormongers of being know whether they are aware
in Zeitoun, and tomorrow of the behind the regrettable events, that their words both increase the
one in Alexandria, [2] and after saying that they must be agents suffering and will fail to end this
that of the one in Deir Abu-Fana of Israel orAmerica. series [of incidents]. "[Instead,]
in Minya, [3] and then of the "Of course, the usual Coptic why don't they use their media
diverse incidents, ranging from notables deny any suspicion of presence to defend their people,
killing without reason to armed sectarianism, and affirm national the Copts, and to urge the
robbery, kidnapping of monks,
torching of houses and cars, and
waylaying and kidnapping of
girls. "As usual, all repudiate and
condemn, accompanied by
official and media denial of any
sectarian or terrorist motive. And
if that isn't appropriate, the
standard excuse [is trotted out]:
the criminal was mentally
disturbed and did not mean to do
what he did. "This is what has
happened in individual
Civil Society June 2008
12
Enactment of laws to prohibit
what is happening, and to purge
the educational system and
media of the explosive mines of
sedition, discrimination, and
incitement?"
"An Attempt to Terrorize
the Copts... and Force Them...
To Either Emigrate... or
Convert"
"What is happening is an
attempt to terrorize Egypt's
Copts, and to force them either to
emigrate from the homeland
once and for all, or to convert to
Islam to protect themselves and
their families [from harm] and to
protect their property from the
confiscation mentioned by many
Islamic publications. "It causes Funeral of Coptic Victim
me regret, and as an Egyptian it
makes my heart bleed, to see this
farce endlessly repeated, and to
the June 5 report in [the Egyptian government daily] Al-Ahram...
see the same prominent
accusing Copts residing abroad of being behind the Zeitoun incident,
individuals say the same words -
[and of] forming an armed Coptic organization to instigate civil strife
and [then to see] the matter
in Egypt. "Can you imagine such far-out nonsense? I implore you: For
forgotten a short time later.
God's sake, oh Egypt!”
"Frankly, I blame the Coptic
leadership in Egypt, headed by
His Eminence Pope [Shenouda
III] himself, because it has [1]http://www.aafaq.org/masahas.aspx?id_mas=1905.
reached the point where lives and [2] On May 28, 2008, four Coptic Christians - a jeweler and three of his
property are taken with impunity, employees - were shot dead by masked men in their shop in the Zeitoun district of
and clearly with the authorities' Cairo. The next day, two men armed with machine guns robbed a Coptic jeweler in
collusion - with no fear of Alexandria of 150,000 Egyptian pounds (see
effective response, and with the http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/05/28/50596.html ).
[3] On May 31, 2008, men armed with automatic weapons attacked theAbu-Fana
confidence of all that, as always,
monastery in the Minya governorate, about 210 km south of Cairo. Four monks
the matter will end with beard- were wounded, and another three were kidnapped, beaten, threatened with death for
kissing and forgetting. refusing to convert to Islam, and later released. Previously, in January 2008, armed
"Although I fully believe that the men had attacked the monastery and destroyed eight cells inhabited by solitary
majority of Egypt's Muslims side monks, beating one, and also destroyed Bibles and religious objects (see
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/E77B0CA4-4D9A-4DF8-8375-
with their Coptic brothers and
59694E2A6522.htm and http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2008/900/eg6.htm ).
against these incidents, [I must [4] On April 14, 2006, a man carried out a knife attack on worshippers in three
point out that] in light of the different Coptic churches; one victim died of his wounds (see
incitement, and in light of the http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=22014 and
seditious clerics on the religious http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/04/14/news/egypt.php).
Civil Society June 2008
13
Human Rights Defenders…Persecuted
in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Press Statement 11/6/2008 Al-Falih was arrested on the Judicial sentence, with being
Arab rights organizations and 19th of May while at his office at openly involved with the
civil society organizations King Saud University (KSU) families of Saudi detainees who
signatories to the present Riyadh where he is a Professor of have, last year, demonstrated in
statement call upon Saudi Political Sciences. front of the Breidah Prison in
authorities to put an end to the The signatory organizations protest against the prolonged,
arbitrary practices targeting presume that the arrest of Dr. unlawful detention of their
Saudi activists who aspire to Matruk was directly interrelated relatives.
effect democratic reform in the with a message he had sent a Saudi authorities, instead of
Kingdom. The organizations couple of days earlier through an embarking on tangible measures
moreover demand Saudi email and a website. The to correct the dreadful conditions
authorities, in particular, to take message spoke of the poor living within the prison, which were
necessary measures to promptly and health conditions within the confirmed by the attestation of
and unconditionally release Dr. Breidah Public Prison, which he Abdullah and Issa Al-Hamid,
Matruk Al-Falih a Saudi had personally witnessed during decided to punish Dr. Matruk for
activist, prominent in the area of his visit to Dr. Abdullah Al- his public criticism of the
human rights and renowned for Hamid and Issa Al-Hamid two conditions of detention and to
his involvement in the most of his rights activist friends who subject him to even more
notorious events demanding remain within that prison since arbitrary measures by
Civil Society June 2008
constitutional reform in the last November after being confiscating his personal laptop
Kingdom. condemned, by virtue of a and mobile phone upon his
*This statement is printed, with permission, from the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies.
14
arrest; moreover, by exercising To complain, demonstrate or The signatory organizations to
further pressures and peacefully associate; moreover, the present statement stress the
psychological torment on the in a country in which the necessity to bring together the
Professor during his procedures of litigation and the efforts of the international
confinement in Al-Ha'er Prison. criteria of a fair trial are greatly Human rights movement to
As advised by his wife, Prison violated. promptly release Matruk Al-
officials deliberately woke him In this context, it is worth Falih, Abdullah Al-Hamid and
up after midnight claiming that mentioning that Matruk Al-Falih Issa Al-Hamid and to put an end
he would be subject to and Abdullah Al-Hamid have to the brutal measures taken
interrogations, tied his hands and previously been detained, in against the human rights
feet and tried to force him to eat 2004, with a number of defenders and advocates of
after he had announced a food advocates of reform after they reform in the Kingdom of Saudi
strike in protest against not only had submitted a petition to the Arabia. The undersigned lay a
being detained, but also against King of Saudi Arabia demanding special emphasis on the fact that
his detention without any constitutional reforms to be member states of the United
notification of the charges brought about and legislations be Nations Human Rights Council
pressed against him. enacted to protect human rights should seriously study the
The signatory organizations and public freedoms. Al-Falih relevant measures needed to be
of the present statement fear that and Al-Hamid have been taken by Council to spur Saudi
continued arbitrary confinement sentenced to prison for a term of authorities to act as per the
of Dr. Matruk will only 6 to 9 years and were released in pledges they made upon their
jeopardize his health and his life; August of 2005 by virtue of a e l ec t i on f or t he Co u n c il
especially that he is diabetic and royal pardon granted at that time. membership in 2006. These
suffers from hypertension. The It is also worth noting that pledges included, total
organizations also deem the Saudi authorities have detained commitment to defend and foster
measures undertaken against Dr. blogger Fouad Al-Farhan late human rights within the
Al-Falih and his fellow inmates, last December after requesting Kingdom.
Abdullah Al-Hamid and Issa Al- the release of several reform The Arab organizations
Hamid, an additional indicator of activists. Al-Farhan remained in consider that the actual practices
the extremely poor state of solitary confinement with no of Saudi authorities in this
human rights in a country that charge or trial until he was context show blatant withering
pays no regard to the freedom of recently released lastApril. and scorn for these pledges.
speech and to the right of citizens
Signatory Organizations of the
Statement (partial list)
1) Andalus Institute for Tolerance
and Anti-Violence Studies (AITAS)
Egypt;
2) Arab Center for the Independence
of the Judiciary and the Legal
Profession (ACIJLP) Egypt;
3) Arabic Network for Human
Rights Information (ANHRI) Egypt;
4) Association for Human Rights
LegalAid (AHRLA) Egypt;
5) Bahrain Center for Human Rights
(BCHR) Bahrain;
Civil Society June 2008
15
Human Rights News from
*
Egypt Around the Arab World
Egyptian Journalist Kamal Murad becomes target of
a brutal assault, for his role in documenting Police Brutality
Three human rights police officers and with inciting This petition included
organizations have submitted a the peasants to attack security accusations made by Murad and
petition to the Deputy Minister, forces . the three human rights
on 21 June 2008, demanding an This case is considered organizations against the
investigation into the brutal revenge for Murad's role in a specific police officers involved
assault of journalist, Kamal recent and particularly famous in the violence. The three
Murad of Al-Fajr Newspaper by torture case, known as Emad el- officers include:
three police officers four days Kabir's Case. Murad was the Mohamed Badrawy - Amr
earlier. The police officers, who journalist who published the Allam - Mohamed Basiouni
are all from Rahmanya Center in torture story of the Egyptian The Assistant to the Deputy
Buhaira Governate in the Delta driver Emad el-Kabir by a police General has referred the case to
region, badly beat Murad, officer, Ismal Nabih. Officer the relevant prosecutor in
verbally insulted him, and seized Nabih, subsequently, was Damanhur city, the capital of El-
his private notes and mobile- sentenced to three years in Buhaira Governorate, to act as
memory card. This assault, and prison. Many of the police required.
the consequent seizure of his officers that attacked Murad
intellectual assets, was a direct The outright police brutality
while outside the Rahmanya against Kamal Murad reaffirms
result of Murad's investigative Prosercutor's office blatantly
reporting of an influential the state's motivation to extract
taunted him with: “You will see, revenge from brave journalists,
peddling case involving a local O' the one who sent the officer to
trader and his two sons, both in this case one who has revealed
jail for three years.” Clearly, a major torture case, and who
police officers. then, this was an act of pure and succeeded in cooperating with
The assault took place on unadulterated retaliation. Egyptian bloggers to bring the
Tuesday 17th June, 2008. Murad Despite his eventual release by perpetrator-police officer, Islam
was arrested after conducting the Prosecutor's office, the police Nabih, to justice. The ball is the
interviews with peasants in department still maintains Interior Minister's court now, so
Ezbat Mohram, in Rahmanya possession of Murad's mobile- he must now start to stand by his
Center. Murad interviewed memory card, which contains written declaration about ending
peasants, and took photos of detailed photographs of the torture, noted Gamal Eid, the
police personnel beating them in officers assaulting the peasants, executive director of the Arabic
order to coerce them into signing and of the huge banquets thrown Network for Human Rights
lease contracts with one of the for the officers by their landlord, Information.
nearby landlords. The police for their help in quelling the
officers engaged in this blatant The three rights organization
farmers. Moreover, the police have established a forum to
misconduct as a courtesy to their department still maintains
friends and police colleagues, defend Kamal Murad, and bring
Murad's private notes, which those officers to court, as a step
the sons of the aforementioned include the draft of the
landlord. After conducting his towards elimination of the
interviews he made with the impunity for rogue police
interviews, Murad fell victim to peasants as well as their
police brutality himself, as the officers, and towards limiting the
statements . torture and ill-treatment of
officers turned their attention to The petition, filed by Mr. Abd
him, beating him heavily, and journalists.
al-Gawad Ahmed, advocate and
Civil Society June 2008
Bahrain
It is a Crime Punishable by Law to Establish
a Youth Rights Organization
T h e B a h r a i n Yo u t h Defense Organization, and In a criminal case---practicing
Association for Human Rights chairman of the Bahrain Youth association before obtaining
watched with deep concern the Association for Human Rights. permission from the
summons issued by the Bahraini This summons, filed by the establishment---Mesgati
Justice Ministry to Mohamed Ministry of Social Affairs, potentially faces imprisonment
Mesgati, a 21-year-old college requires Mesgati to appear for up to six months, or a fine of
student and regional member of th
before the 4 Penal Court on 6 500 BD, or both.
the Norwegian International November 2008. As a defendant
Tunisia
Mass Human Rights Violations, Fire Shooting by
the Tunisian Authorities
On Friday, 6th June2008, in the Fired live bullets at a group of Left dozens of other
Civil Society June 2008
17
Yemen
Sami Ghalib, Editor in Chief of Alnedaa Newspaper, is being
Prosecuted, for the Crime of Practicing Investigative Journalism
The Arabic Network for article 197 of the Penal Code, for against Mr. Ghalib, as he has
Human Rights Information slander and humiliation. been receiving multiple death
expressed its displeasure today The prosecution of the threats since June 2007.
at the pursuance of the newspaper is seemingly a Ostensibly, these threats are a
prosecution of Sami Ghalib, response to the newspaper's response to his basic
Editor in Chief of the Yemeni basic role of acting as an outlet of commitment to journalistic
Independent Newspaper the press, as mandated by the integrity.
Alnedaa, following a complaint Yemeni Press Law. But the Many risks are threatening
from the undersecretary of the m i n i s t r y o f Aw k a f , a s press and journalistic freedoms
ministry of the Awkaf, Maqboul represented by its in Yemen, but the presence of
Al Ahdal. One of Mr. Ghalib's undersecretary, nonetheless brave journalists like Ghalib
articles, published in Alnedda on found it appropriate to chastise contributes to strengthening the
29 November 2006, discussed all newspapers who reported on hope for an independent press,
the malfunctioning of the Awkaf mal-performance. This said Gamal Eid, the executive
Yemeni Awkaf Ministry in witch hunt began with Al-Nass director of the Arabic Network
arranging the Hajj and Umrah newspaper, then Al Wassat, and For Human Rights Information.
pilgrimages. In retaliation, the then finally Alnedaa newspaper Our duty is to support these
Awkaf Ministry undersecretary and its editor-in-chief Sami journalists against attempts by
is demanding the punishment of Ghalib. This case, moreover, is the state to intimidate and silence
Ghalib, under provision of not the only putative threat them.
Syria
Prosecution of Activists in Syria Continues
On Sunday, 8 June 2008, the Arbaji, was arrested by the president of Syria, urging him to
Supreme State Security Court district branch of the Military intervene to free DakAl Bab.
suspended the prosecution of the Intelligence on the basis of his Dak Al Bab was summoned on
Syrian activist Kareem Arbaji to activity as a moderator in some 2 May 2008, and arrested
an undermined date, alleging online brotherhood forums. immediately thereafter. The
that the new court premises in The Front Line Foundation for summon was thought to have
Mazza Neighborhood in Protection of Human Rights been issued against him in
Damascus are not yet fully Defenders in Communiqué retaliation against him for
secure, also citing that escape of demanded the release of Dak El articles he wrote recently, which
detainees from the court Bab, a member of the Arab included critiques against the
building is still a possibility. The Organization for Human Rights Information Minister, Mohsin
defendant in this case, Kareem in Syria, attaching a letter to the Belal
Lebanon
Rasid announced reopening of its office, after a
month-and-a-half closure due to threats
The Palestinian Association Lebanon, after ultimately Association and its members,
Civil Society Jun 2008
for Human Rights (Rasid) resolving potential threats and against the obstruction of its
announces the reopening of its against it, through a settlement activities.
office, located in Ain El Helwa including pledges of non-
camp for Palestinian refugees in infringement against the
18
Morocco
Human Rights association condemns police brutality against
civilians in Sedi Efni, demanding an investigation.
Dozens of civilian women and subjected to beatings, rape and of the basic freedoms afforded
men in Efti City were subjected sexual harassment, looting, tear them by law, and is a breach of
to a violent outburst by public gas, and rubber bullets, reports international conventions of
forces. On the early morning of the Moroccan Association for human rights and prohibitions of
7th June, 2008, innocent Human Rights in a press release. torture.
civilians were unnecessarily Clearly, this is a blatant violation
Iraq
American Forces Arbitrarily Arrest Journalists
Reporters without Borders and A patent disregard for the laws of governerate and arrested two of
the Press Freedoms Observatory Iraq. The American authorities his siblings, while he was at his
call on for the release of currently detaining Nori should work place, as a deputy editor-in-
Associated Press photographer release him if unable to charge chief of Assharq (The East) daily
Ahmed Nori, who has been him. newspaper. One of his brothers
detained since 4 June 2008 in an The journalist Saad El Rikabi was released, while the
American Base in Tikrit. Both told the Iraqi Association for American forces are still
organizations declared that Defense of Journalists Rights withholding his other brother,
detaining Ahmed Nori without that American forces had broken without any official warrant by
any justification are indicative of into his house in Nassirya the Iraqi Judiciary.
Yemen
Abduction and Unfair Trials against Activists in Yemen
Human rights organizations Based primarily on his having punishment against him for the
condemned strongly the ruling written detailed information “crime” of expressing his
of the Specialist Penal Court related to the Saada war. The opinions and practicing his
against journalist Abdul Karim court sentence against al- legitimate right as a journalist to
al-Khaiwani to 6 months in Khaiwani is entirely political in freely publish information
prison. This prosecution was nature, a revenge and
Organization for the Defense of Organization for the Defense of abduction is based solely on his
Rights and Freedoms, Rights and Freedoms, on 5 June activity of teaching the Zaidism
unidentified parties had 2008. To date, he cannot be doctrine in Yemeni universities.
abducted Eng. Yasser al-Wazir, l o c a t e d . M o r e o v e r, t h e
19
Tel: +2 (02) 2508 1617 / 2508 1030 / 2667 0974
Fax: +2 (02) 2667 0973
http://www.eicds.org
civilsocietyeditor@gmail.com