12/21/2009
The Honorable Ambassador Margaret Scobey
US Embassy in Cairo
8 Kamal El Din Salah Street
Garden City, Cairo, Egypt
Delivered via fax (20-2) 2797 3200 and email
The Honorable Ambassador Margaret Scobey
US Embassy in Cairo
8 Kamal El Din Salah Street
Garden City, Cairo, Egypt
Delivered via fax (20-2) 2797 3200 and email
Dear Ambassador Scobey,
On Monday, December 14th the Egyptian newspaper “Youm 7” reported that during a visit to Tanta University, you praised human rights and freedoms in Egypt – particularly stating that Egypt enjoys “full freedom of the press,” that human rights organizations work “in complete freedom,” and that “there is no differentiation between minorities in Egypt.” These statements were confirmed in the copy of your comments as published in the Embassy’s website, and also that you specifically praised the work of Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights.
As Egyptian Americans, we are appalled and extremely disappointed at these statements, as we know first-hand they are not true. Hundreds of reports - including those issued by the US State Department (and those below, as reported by international and Egyptian media outlets) – acknowledge that respect for human rights in Egypt has declined significantly in recent years, specifically in terms of freedom of the press, religious freedoms, and the ability for human rights activists and organizations to work without restriction. The Egyptian government consistently denies, downplays, or hides these serious violations of human rights. It is horrifying to think that denial, cover up, and collusion may also now be the policy of our American Embassy in Cairo, especially in light of such documented evidence to the contrary:
A) The Coptic Christians, Egypt’s largest minority group, in the last year alone have faced numerous examples of persecution – including the following incidents were a perpetrator has yet to be brought to justice:
1. A Copt is burned alive, his Father murdered, and his brother injured following a rumored relationship between the victim and the perpetrator’s sister in Dmas Meet Ghamr. (Alarabiya, 3/6/2009)
2. A Christian man is murdered following a rumor that his son had an affair with a Muslim girl, and subsequent clashes (resulting in damages to the local church) erupted in Dayrout, Assuit Province. (AlMasry AlYoum, 10/26/09)
3. A Christian man was murdered in his shop following sectarian clashes involving guns, bricks, and sticks in Al-Tayebeya, Minya. (Reuters, 10/4/09)
4. After Friday prayers, four Copts are injured when a mob numbering in the hundreds burns Coptic property after hearing a home is going to be turned into a church in Hawasliya, Minya on July 24th. (BBC, 7/24/2009)
5. In the Upper Egypt town of Farshout in Qena Governorate, hundreds of locals looted, vandalized, and burnt Coptic property – 7 Coptic owned shops were destroyed. The violence was sparked because a rumor spread that a Coptic man was in custody for kidnapping and raping a young Muslim girl. (Reuters, 11/21/09)
6. Due to the violence in Farshout, 36 families are forcibly migrated from their homes and shops, which were burnt. (Youm7, 11/29/09)
7. Violence from the above incident in Farshout spills into neighboring village Abu Tasht, Coptic stores and homes were burnt. (Youm7, 11/23/09)
8. A mob attacks local Christians because they tried to fix a decrepit church building and Coptic property was damaged in Dier Mawas. (AlMasry AlYoum, 10/29/2009)
9. Coptic shops are vandalized and Christians receive death threats following a rumor that a Christian landlord killed a Muslim tenant in Alexandria. (Reuters, 4/5/09)
B) Human rights and democracy activists like Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim have been jailed, harassed and threatened with lawsuits as a direct result of their work. Dr. Ibrahim remains in exile in the United States, as he cannot return to Egypt due to threats of lawsuits, jail, and torture – all which he has been a victim of in the past, despite his age and poor health. Political opponents like Dr. Ayman Nour have been jailed for simply running against President Mubarak in an election, and Mohammed Elbaradei’s character is currently being slaughtered by government press simply for his response to an internet campaign started by countless Egyptians begging him to run. Elbaradei stated that IF Egypt had fair and democratic elections, he may consider a run; which clearly shows his opinion that Egypt does not currently have a truly democratic system.
C) Bloggers and journalists are harassed for their writings, peaceful protests are met with violent resistance, and torture continues to be common practice by Egyptian security forces.
D) Press freedom is virtually non-existent in Egypt, especially considering that the government owns certain newspapers, TV stations, and other media outlets that are paid to spread misleading and false information. This puts a virtual stranglehold on non-government media, and they are strictly admonished when crossing certain red lines – for example, speaking about the President’s health; for which El Dustoor Editor Ibrahim Eissa was sentenced to jail and subsequently given a Presidential pardon. No such pardon would have been needed if Egypt had a free press.
The US Government (and particularly its Ambassadors) holds such an important role as a beacon of light and hope for all oppressed peoples. The voices of those crying out for their freedoms should never be silenced, but rather uplifted and supported with all America has to offer. Let us not forget the motto inscribed on our dear Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.”
Such sentiment was reiterated by President Obama during his speech at Cairo University: “But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind…confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice….the freedom to live as you choose. These are not just American ideas; they are human rights. And that is why we will support them everywhere….People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind, heart, and soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive, but it is being challenged in many different ways. Among some Muslims, there is a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of another's. The richness of religious diversity must be upheld – whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt.” Most recently in Oslo, Norway, President Obama said this: “The same principle applies to those who violate international laws by brutalizing their own people…..there must be consequences. Yes, there will be engagement; yes, there will be diplomacy -- but there must be consequences.”
As you can see from the aforementioned examples, countless Egyptians (sometimes at great personal peril) tirelessly continue the fight for human rights, democracy, and religious freedoms. We must not abandon them in their hour of need, and action must accompany rhetoric. At the very least, one consequence of actions for countries that directly violate the rights of their citizens should be a public and directly frank admonishment of the abuses. Therefore, we strongly protest your position, and we sincerely hope that in the future the Embassy takes an ardent public stand against the Egyptian government’s rampant violations of human rights.
Sincerely,
Cameel Halim
Chairman, Coptic Assembly of America
Cameel Halim
Chairman, Coptic Assembly of America
CC: President Barak Obama
Secretary Hillary Clinton
All Members of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus
Mr. Warren Cofsky, Foreign Affairs Officer, IRF/DRL, US State Department
Copies in Arabic provided to Egyptian Newspaper Youm7
The Coalition of Egyptian Organizations
Secretary Hillary Clinton
All Members of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus
Mr. Warren Cofsky, Foreign Affairs Officer, IRF/DRL, US State Department
Copies in Arabic provided to Egyptian Newspaper Youm7
The Coalition of Egyptian Organizations