By now, many of you have read today’s Washington Post editorial, “Captive to a Discarded Cause,” which calls for the release of imprisoned Egyptian dissident Ayman Nour. The Leadership Council for Human Rights stands by The Post in its support for Mr. Nour, who in 2005 was jailed on dubious forgery charges after challenging President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt ’s first – and last – contested presidential election.







As the editorial notes, Mubarak will tomorrow pardon hundreds of prisoners who, like Mr. Nour, have served over half their sentences. Yet, with those accused of forgery now, not uncoincidentally, ineligible for the pardon, Mr. Nour may remain behind bars, his already-failing health deteriorating further by the day.







Last week, Mr. Nour’s wife, Gameela Ismail, sent LCHR a copy of a letter from her husband to his supporters in the U.S. Congress regarding his current status. In it, he asks Members of Congress to consider recent developments in his case as they support H. Res. 1303, which calls for his immediate release within the context of greater respect for human rights and religious freedom in Egypt . His inclusion in the July 23 presidential pardon is among the matters cited for addition to the bill.







Please call and encourage your Members of Congress to demand Mr. Nour’s release, both by co-sponsoring H. Res. 1303 and through appeals to the relevant officials in Egypt . Your support is vital at this critical juncture in Mr. Nour’s case. Current co-sponsors are: Reps. Bordallo, Burton , Davis , Eshoo, Fossella, Franks, Goode, Kirk, Lofgren, McCotter, McGovern, Pence, Pitts, Porter, Schakowsky, Smith, Souder, and Waters.