AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

Dr. Ibrahim Khalil al-Za'farani, Secretary General of the Alexandria branch of the Medical Syndicate in Cairo and head of its human rights committee, was re-arrested on 14 February 1999. Dr. al-Za'farani was arrested along with eight other members of the Muslim Brotherhood on the charges of belonging to a secret organization and possession of pamphlets that promote the group's ideas. He is reportedly being held at Mazra'at Tora Prison, south of Cairo.

Dr. al-Za'farani was previously arrested on 22 January 1998 just hours after his release from prison upon the completion of a three-year prison term with hard labor. He was subsequently released in March 1998. These earlier arrests were also based on the charges of "membership in a secret organization which aims to overthrow the regime by force, contacts with foreign quarters and possession of hostile printed material." However, the real reason for his arrest was believed to be his campaign activities during the November 1995 legislative elections.

The Muslim Brotherhood neither uses nor advocates violence.

The arrest of Dr. al-Za'farani constitutes a serious violation of basic international standards, many of which are included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Egypt is a State Party. They include:

Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted without opposition by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948, which incorporates many universal principles binding on all nations as part of customary international law:

• Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of the person (Article 3);
• no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile (Article 9);
• everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers (Article 19); and
• everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association (Article 20).

Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Egypt on 14 January 1982 everyone has:

• The rights to liberty and security of the person (Article 9);
• the right to freedom of expression and to receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds (Article 19); and
• the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly (Articles 21 and 22).

(Source of information on this case is Amnesty International.)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes or airmail letters:

• expressing concern about the re-arrest of Dr. al-Za'farani; and
• urging Dr. al-Za'farani's immediate and unconditional release from custody.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

His Excellency Muhammad Hosni Mubarak
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
'Abedine Palace, Cairo, Egypt
Fax: 011 202 390 1998
Salutation: Your Excellency

His Excellency General Habib al-'Adeli
Minister of the Interior
Ministry of the Interior
Al-Sheikh Rihan Street
Bab al-Louk, Cairo, Egypt
Fax: 011 202 579 2031


Mr. Faruq Sayf al-Nasr
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
Midan Lazoghly, Cairo, Egypt
Fax: 011 202 355 8103


General Nabil Sayyam
Director of Prisons
Maslahat al-Sugun
Al-Gala'a Street, Cairo, Egypt
Fax: 011 202 574 5561

COPIES SENT TO:

Human Rights Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Corniche al-Nil
Cairo, Egypt
Fax: +011 202 574 9533


Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR)
8/10 Mathaf El Manial Street
Manial El Roda
Cairo, Egypt
Fax: 011 202 362 1613


Egyptian Medical Syndicate
Dar al Hikmah
42 Kasr el Eini Street
Cairo, Egypt
Fax: 011 202 356 2751


Egyptian Medical Syndicate
Alexandria Branch
Egyptian Human Rights Committee
Sapa Pacha
Alexandria, Egypt
Fax: 011 203 588 1412


Ambassador Edward S. Walker, Jr.
APO AE 0983904900
AMEMB UN 23227
AMEMB UN
Fax: 011 202 357 3049


Ambassador Ahmed Maher El Sayed
Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt
3521 International Court, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Fax: 202-244-4319/5131

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