AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

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FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 19 February 2001, prosecutors ended their arguments in the trial of Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim. The prosecution, characterizing Dr. Ibrahim and the twenty-seven other defendants in the trial as "criminals ready to sell their nation and people for money," requested a fifteen-year sentence for Dr. Ibrahim. During the trial, prosecutors also stated that Dr. Ibrahim is "using his intelligence to jeopardize this country's stability and sow the seeds of disunity." The court adjourned until 14 April 2001 to give the defense time to prepare its response. Several international observers and representatives from human rights organizations are attending the trial.

Dr. Ibrahim is a sociology professor at the American University in Cairo and founder and director of the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies. He was first arrested on 30 June 2000 and charged with accepting donor funds from the European Union without official permission, deliberately disseminating false information and malicious rumors about the internal affairs of the State, and harming the image of the State abroad.

The Ibn Khaldun Center used the funds, about $160,000 from the European Commission, for a project to increase public awareness on voting rights in Egypt. The project included a short documentary that mentioned past alleged instances of electoral fraud in Egypt. The Center has been very active in calling for an independent judicial review of elections in Egypt and had planned to serve as election monitors in last year's parliamentary elections. In addition to its work for free and fair elections, the Center also conducts research on democracy, civil society, and minority rights in Egypt.

Dr. Ibrahim's lawyers stated that they believe the government will have a difficult time in proving the charges. They contend that the Ibn Khaldun Center is a private organization working under contract and as such was not subject to the Egyptian law requiring official permission to accept funds from foreign donors. Lawyers also noted that the Center has received foreign donations for the past 12 years without encountering any objections from the government.

Dr. Ibrahim's trial is being conducted in the High State Security Court, which was established as a legal institution under the State Security Law of 1980. The State Security Laws created a parallel court system, consisting of security courts and military courts. These special courts operate outside the civil court system. The security courts have power to suspend some of the usual rights and protections guaranteed in the civil court system. The law also grants officials far-reaching powers to detain individuals without indictment or trial. Most politically sensitive criminal cases are tried in the special security courts. The decision of the judges is final and cannot be appealed.

Dr. Ibrahim made the following statement outside the court: "I am sure I will be cleared. I am just a sociologist. I observe, document, analyze, and I try to make some recommendations."

Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim is free on bail, but his passport remains confiscated by Egyptian authorities, and he unable to travel freely. AAASHRAN will continue to monitor the case.

(Sources of information for this case include: Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies (http://www.ibnkhaldun.org/) and the New York Times)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send telegrams, faxes, airmail letters or emails:

• Expressing your continued concern that the charges against Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim may be part of a larger attempt by Egyptian authorities to stifle political dissent and intimidate human rights defenders;
• Expressing your concern that the case against Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim and his associates of the Ibn Khaldun Center is being tried in the State Security Court where due process is limited and the defendants do not have a right to appeal, and;
• Request that Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim's passport be returned to him and that he be allowed to travel freely.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

His Excellency Mohammed Hosni Mubarak
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Abdeen Palace
Cairo, EGYPT
Fax: 20 2 390 1998


The Honorable Farouk Seif El Nasr
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
Midan Lazoghly
Cairo, EGYPT
Fax: 20 2 355 8103


The Honorable General Habib Ibrahim El Adly
Minister of the Interior
Ministry of the Interior
Al Shiek Rihan Street
bab al-Louk
Cairo, EGYPT
Fax: 20 2 355 8103

COPIES SENT TO:

The Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies (ICDS)
17, st. 12
P.O. Box 13
Mokatam
Cairo, EGYPT
Fax: 20 2 508-1030


The Honorable Daniel Kurtzer
The Ambassador of the United States of America
Embassy of the United States
5 Latin America Street
Garden City
Cairo, EGYPT
Fax: 20 2 357 3200

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6796; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals re to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

To verify the contents of this alert and/or the electronic signature, please download the signed file for this alert along with the Program's PGP Public Key.

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