Egyptian Association for Change - USA

Democracy in Egypt

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Friday, November 5, 2010

LAST APRIL, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak disregarded appeals from the Obama administration and violated his own public promises by renewing the "emergency law" that for decades has allowed security forces to prevent public demonstrations, break up political meetings, close media outlets and arrest opposition activists without charge. When the administration protested, Egyptian officials assured it that the law henceforth would be applied only in terrorism and drug cases. The White House cited that pledge in a recent summary of its human rights accomplishments.

Now, with a parliamentary election approaching, the regime's political repression has grown more rather than less severe. Hundreds of political activists from the banned Muslim Brotherhood party have been arrested; critical television talk shows and newspaper columns have been canceled; student leaders have been rounded up. In a number of recent cases, peaceful political activists, including those supporting secular democratic movements, have been "disappeared": abducted and held for days by the secret police and sometimes beaten or tortured, before being released on roads outside Cairo.

As he pledged, Mr. Mubarak has done all this without use of the emergency law. Instead the regime has begun acting entirely outside the rule of law. The young activists who have been beaten or kidnapped have no recourse; there is no case to contest, and they are unable even to identify those who assault them.

Fortunately there are signs that the White House is at last waking up to its Egypt problem. This week a number of senior officials met with an ad hoc group of foreign policy experts who have been trying to call attention to the need for a change in U.S. policy. Some good ideas were discussed, such as a strong presidential statement about the conduct of the elections or the dispatch of a special envoy to Cairo. A new U.S. ambassador committed to political change, rather than apologizing for the regime, would help. What's most important is to make clear to Mr. Mubarak that the administration expects some immediate, even if incremental, changes. An end to the beating and abduction of peaceful activists would be a good place to start.

Published by the Washington Post

EACUSA Press Releases

 3 نوفمبر 2010

أظهرت الأنباء الأخيرة القادمة من مصر مجددا أن الحكومة المصرية غير جادة في إعطاء المصريين بالخارج آلية يمكن من خلالها ممارسة حقهم الدستوري في التصويت. والجمعية المصرية للتغيير بأمريكا إذ تدين ذلك الهزل فى موضع الجد، فإنها تعلن تصميمها على نيل الحق فى التصويت للمصريين بالخارج بصورة كاملة وغير منقوصة، استنادا للإعلان العالمي للحقوق المدنية والسياسية ، واستنادا الي الدستور المصري الذي يكفل هذا الحق لسبعة ملايين مصرى يعيشون بالخارج  . 

 و لنفس هذا الغرض اقام الفقيه الدستوري د.يحيى الجمل دعوى قضائية في مصر نيابة عن العديد من المصريين، بمن فيهم أعضاء الجمعية المصرية للتغيير بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية ، لمطالبة الحكومة المصرية بتصحيح هذا الوضع. و في الوقت الذي تعرض فيه القضية علي المحاكم المصرية واصلت الحكومة إعطاء رسائل متضاربة بهذا الشأن  .

و يستند حق المصريين بالخارج في التصويت  إلى الدستور المصري فى مواده رقم (٦٢) والتي تنص على أنه "للمواطن حق الانتخاب وإبداء الرأي في الاستفتاء وفقا لأحكام القانون، ومساهمته في الحياة العامة واجب وطني"؛ ومادة رقم (٤٠) والتي تنص على أن: "المواطنون لدى القانون سواء، وهم متساوون في الحقوق والواجبات العامة، لا تمييز بينهم في ذلك"؛ ومادة رقم (٥٢) والتي تعطي: (للمواطنين حق الهجرة الدائمة أو المؤقتة إلى الخارج...)؛ و مادة رقم (٦٣) والتي تعطي:(لكل فرد حق مخاطبة السلطات العامة كتابة وبتوقيعه(

إن الجمعية المصرية للتغيير بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية تعمل من اجل أن تتحول مصر ديمقراطيا بصورة سلمية، تضمن العدالة الاجتماعية والمساواة وحقوق الإنسان ، فضلا عن ضمان الحريات السياسية والاقتصادية لجميع مواطنيها. وتحقيقا لتلك الغاية، فإننا ندعو إلى آلية واضحة المعالم  لتمكين المصريين بالخارج من التصويت ، وتنفيذ هذه آلية بدءاً من الانتخابات الرئاسية في ٢٠١١.

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الجمعية المصرية للتغييربالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية هي مؤسسة غير ربحية غير حزبية وغير طائفية ملتزمة بالاصلاح السياسي والديمقراطي في مصر. لإجراء مقابلات صحفية يرجى الاتصال بنادين وهاب علي تليفون ٥٤٥٨-٥٩٦-٢٠٢-١+ أو على ايميل media@eacusa.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

EACUSA Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 3rd, 2010
Contact: Nadine Wahab
(202) 596-5458
Media@eacusa.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Recent news articles have again shown that the current Egyptian Administration has little intention to give Egyptian expatriates a mechanism by which to express their right to vote. In accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, we are seeking a remedy to the infringement of the constitutionally protected right of the seven million Egyptians living abroad.  

Internationally renowned constitutional expert, Yehia El Gamal has filled suit in Egypt on behalf of several Egyptians, including members of the Egyptian Association for Change, to demand that the Egyptian government remedy the situation and implement a voting abroad program. As we await a court date, the administration has continued to give conflicting messages on the issue.

The Constitutional argument for voting abroad is based on article No. (62), which states that "citizens have the right to vote and express their opinions in referendums in accordance with the provisions of the law, and their participation in public life is a national duty"; article No. (40), which states that "All citizens are equal before the law in rights and duties without discrimination among them "; article No. (52) which gives Egyptian citizens the right of permanent or temporary immigration to other countries; and article No. (63) which gives every Egyptian the right to address in writing under his/her signature public authorities.

The Egyptian Association for Change envisions a peaceful and democratic Egypt that guarantees social justice, equality, human rights, as well as political and economic freedoms for all its citizens. To that end, we call for a clearly defined mechanism by which Egyptian living abroad can vote, and the implementation of the mechanism by the Presidential elections of 2011.

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The Egyptian Association for Change is a non-profit, non-partisan non-sectarian organization that is committed to Egypt’s democratic, political, social, and economic reforms. For interviews please call Nadine Wahab at (202) 596-5458 or email  media@eacusa.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it