AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

View Alerts By > Case | Date | Country | Victim

AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

AAAS is concerned about the arrest and conviction of Dr. Mahmoud Ahmad al-'Areeny who is reportedly in ill-health, and Dr. 'Abd al-Hamid al-Ghazali. Dr. Mahmoud Ahmad al-'Areeny is an internationally renowned agricultural engineer and the Dean of the Sciences Faculty at the University of Cairo. Dr. 'Abd al-Hamid al-Ghazali is a lecturer at the faculty of economics and political science. Drs. al-'Areeny and al-Ghazali were among thirteen prominent members of the Muslim Brotherhood arrested in April 1996 for the peaceful expression of their political views and for their association with the Muslim Brothers Movement. Their cases were transferred to a military court by presidential decree in May 1996. They were charged with "running, in violation of the law, an organization called the Muslim Brotherhood, the aim of which is to advocate undermining the constitution and the laws." Their conviction may also stem from their involvement in the formation of a new opposition party, al Wasat. None of the thirteen men arrested were charged with the use or advocacy of violence. The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt has officially and categorically denounced the use of violence.

The arrest and conviction of Drs. al-'Areeny and al-Ghazali is a clear violation of international human rights standards enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In addition, Egyptian Law No. 40/1977 recognizes the right of every Egyptian to establish and join a political party.

Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted without objection by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ratified by the Egyptian Government on 14 January 1982) they include:

• the rights to life, liberty, and security of person(UD Article 3, ICCPR Article 6);
• the right to be free of arbitrary arrest or detention (UD Article 9, ICCPR Article 9);
• the right to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal (UD Article 10, ICCPR Article 14);
• the right to freedom of opinion and expression(UD Article 19, ICCPR Article 19);
• the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association (UD Article 20, ICCPR Article 21).

(Sources of information for this case include Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send telexes, telegrams, faxes. or airmail letters:

• expressing concern about the arrest and sentencing to three years in prison of Drs. al-'Areeny and al-Ghazali;
• urging that they be immediately and unconditionally released from prison on the grounds that they were arrested solely for the peaceful expression of their political views.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

His Excellency Muhammad Husni Mubarak
President
'Uruba Palace
'Uruba Street
Heliopolis, Cairo
Egypt


Ms Nayla Gabr
The Human Rights Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Corniche al-Nil, Cairo, Egypt
Faxes: + 20 2 574 9667


Dr Fathi Sorour
Speaker
The People's Assembly
Magles al-Sha'ab Street, Cairo, Egy

Main | CSFR Letters | Science and Human Rights Program