Stop the Egyptian government’s assault on the opposition

No to military tribunals for civilians

 
We are deeply disturbed by the recent actions of the Egyptian authorities against political opponents of the government of Hosni Mubarak.

In particular we condemn the use of military tribunals to prosecute civilians. We are alarmed that dozens of senior members of the Muslim Brotherhood are facing trials in military tribunals despite their acquittal in the civilian courts. We also deplore the denial of liberal dissident Dr. Ayman Nur his legal rights in prison.

We note with concern that recent amendments to the Constitution further undermine Egyptian citizens’ legal and political rights. These changes give constitutional status to the practice of using military tribunals to prosecute civilians. They also prohibit any political activity “within any religious frame of reference or on any religious basis or on the basis of gender or origin". This ban not only criminalises the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest opposition organisation in Egypt, but could lead to prosecutions against a wide range of other civil society organisations. The constitutional amendments were approved in a referendum on 26 March criticised by judicial and civil society monitors as deeply flawed.

• We stand in solidarity with Egyptian citizens campaigning for their democratic rights.

• We call on the Egyptian government to cease the practice of using military tribunals to prosecute civilians and to promptly investigate and punish violations of human rights by Egyptian state officials.

Lindsey German, Convenor, Stop the War Coalition, UK

Andrew Murray, National Chair, Stop the War Coalition, UK

Jane Shallice, Officer, Stop the War Coalition, UK

John Rees, Vice-President, Europe, Cairo Conference

To add your name please email: rabab100 yahoo.com with a copy to office stopwar.org.uk

The original petition

See below for the original petition and initial signatories. (Also online at: http://tinyurl.com/2dw469)

We, the undersigned who belong to a diverse spectrum of parties and political tendencies, strongly condemn the regime’s decision to refer tens of Muslim Brotherhood senior members to military courts, denying them the right, as civilians, to a fair trial in front of an ordinary judge. We also express our solidarity with the liberal dissident Dr. Ayman Nur, who is denied his legal rights in prison–regardless of the political or intellectual differences that may exist between us.

We, the undersigned, see that the regime’s move to prosecute civilians in military courts and enforcing a siege on Dr. Nur, in addition to other worrying developments, as a sign that the authorities insist on maintaining their tyrannical rule, based on repressing freedoms, subverting the will of the people and besieging real opposition powers.

We are fully aware of the government’s current serious measures, as they reflect the insistence of Mubarak and his minions on making their authority everlasting, consolidating their powers and maintaining their dictatorship.

Our political responsibility obliges us, we the undersigned, to consider the attack against Al-Ghad (Tomorrow) Party and the Muslim Brothers as an attack against all of us–regardless of the political differences–and obliges us to unite ranks to confront the regime’s attack via peaceful means.

1- Ibarahim Eissa, Editor in Chief of Ad-Dostour, 2- Abeya el-Banhawi, member of the Afro-Egyptian Human Rights Organization, 3- Ibrahim Mansour, journalist and member of the Press Syndicate Council, 4- Abul Ezz el-Hariri, Tagammu Party MP, 5- Dr. Ahmad el-Ahwani, Professor of Engineering, Cairo University, 6- Ahmad el-Basha, Engineer, 7- Dr. Ahmad el-Mahdi, university professor, 8- Ahmad Badawi Abdel Hamid, Helwan University Engineering student, 9- Ahmad Bahaa Eddin Sha’aban, Engineer and Kefaya member, 10- Ahmad Zein, journalist, 11- Ahmad Seif el-Islam Hamad, Lawyer and director of the Hisham Mubarak Law Center, 12- Ahmad Taha el-Naqr, Journalist and writer, 13- Ahmad Fouad Negm, Poet, 14- Ahmad Mahgoub, Poet and writer, 15- Ahmad Mohamed, Sales Manager, 16- Ahmad Mahmoud, Teacher, 17- Ahmad Mustafa, Salesman, 18- Dr. Ahmad Younis, Journalist and writer, 19- Osama Ahmad, Student and member of the Center for Socialist Studies, 20- Osama Anwar Okasha, Scenarist, 21- Asmaa Ali, Student at Faculty of Commerce, Ain Shams University, 22- Ismail Suleiman, Tagammu Party Secretary in Alexandria, 23- Ashraf Ayoub, Tagammu Party, 24- Ashraf Hefni, Tagammu Party in North Sinai, 25- Ashraf Galal, Telecommunication Engineer, 26- Elham Eidarous, Translator, 27- Elhami el-Merghani, Economic consultant, 28- Amira Abdel Hakim, National Center Against Domestic Violence, 29- Amin Youssri, Former Abassador and Political Writer, 30- Dr. Amina Rashid, Academic and writer, 31- Ayman Helmi, Musician and Translator, 32- Ayman Ebeid, Arab Medical Association, 33- Ihab Abdel Hamid, Ad-Dostour journalist

34- Bothaina Kamel, TV journalist, 35- Bahaa Saber, Journalist, 36- Bahaa Taher, Writer and Novelist, 37- Bahei Eddin Hassan, Executive Director of the Cairo Center for Human Rights Studies, 38- Tamer Wagieh, Researcher at the Center for Socialist Studies, 39- Gamal Fahmi, Journalist and member of the Press Syndicate Council, 40- Gamal Mohamed, 41- Dr. Gamal Nassar, Writer and philosopher, 42- Dr. Gouda Abdel Khaleq, Economics professor at Cairo University and Tagammu Party member, 43- George Ishaq, Education expert and Kefaya member, 44- Gehan Sha’aban, Journalist and member of Center for Socialist Studies, 45- Hazem Ghorab, Journalist, 46- Hafez Abu Saeda, Executive director of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, 47- Hossam Bahgat, Executive director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, 48- Hossam el-Hamalawy, Journalist and member of the Center for Socialist Studies, 49- Dr. Hossam Eissa, University professor, 50- Dr. Hossam Abdallah, Fertility-Sterility specialist in The United Kingdom, 51- Hassan Hussein, Journalist, 52- Dr. Hassan Hanafi, Cairo University professor and writer, 53- Hassan Abdallah, Secretary of Progressive Youth Union in North Sinai, 54- Hassan Mahmoud, Director of the Muslim Brotherhood Parliamentarian block’s media center, 55- Dr. Hassan Nafa’a, Professor of Political Science at Cairo University, 56- Hosni Abdel Rehim, Energy engineer and writer, 57- Hussein Abdel Razek, journalist and leftist writer, 58- Helmi Sha’arawi, director of the Afro-Arab Research Center, 59- Hamdi Hussein, labor activist, 60- Hamdi Abdel Aziz, Sawasiya Center for Human Rights, 61- Dr. Hamdi Abdo el-Hennawi, Development consultant, 62- Hamdin Sabbahi, Member of Parliament and co-founder of Karama Party, 63- Dr. Hamdi Zob’a, Doctor and writer, 64- Hanin Hanafi, Researcher and member of the Center for Socialist Studies, 65- Khaled el-Balshi, journalist, 66- Dr. Khaled Fahmi, New York University professor, 67- Khaled Youssef, Film director, 68- Khalil Enani, Journalist at El-Siyassa el-Dawliya Periodical, 69- Dr. Rabab el-Mahdi, University lecturer and member of the Center for Socialist Studies, 70- Dr. Radwa Ashour, Ain Shams University professor and writer, 71- Dr. Ra’ouf Abbas, Historian and writer, 72- Dr. Reeham Mustafa, Dentist, 73- Dr. Zaki Salem, 74- Zeinab Abdel Hamid el-Hadari, teacher, 75- Sara Mohamed, Translator, 76- Sameh el-Barqi, 77- Sameh Naguib, researcher with the Center for Socialist Studies, 78- Dr. Sami el-Agouz, Chemist, 79- Saher Gad, Journalist, 80- Sai’d el-Soweirki, journalist, 81- Salama Ahmad Salama, editor of Weghat Nazr magazine, 82- Salma Said Abdel Fattah, Translator, 83- Salwa Gaber Abdel Nabi, Accountant, 84- Suleiman Youssef, Agricultural Engineer, 85- Samir el-Wassimi, Journalist and political researcher, 86- Samir Hosni, theatre play director, 87- Samir Said Ali, Accountant, 88- Dr. Samir Eleish, Civil Society activist, 89- Dr. Suzan Fayyad, Doctor and director of Nadim Center for the Rehabilitation of victims of violence, 90- Dr. Sayyed el-Bahrawi, University professor and writer, 91- Shahinda Meqlad, peasant and socialist activist, 92- Safinaz Kazem, literary critic and writer, 93- Sabri el-Sammak, Cinematographer, 94- Salah Adly, Director of Socialist Afaq Center, 95- Sonaalaah Ibrahim, Writer and novelist, 96- Dr. Diaa Rashwan, Expert with the Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, 97- Tarek Beshri, Former judge, writer and historian, 98- Tarek Abdel Gawwad, Sales manager, 99- Tarek Nawwara, 100- Adel el-Mashad, board director o Sigma Electronics, 101- Adel Suleiman, 102- Dr. Aida Seif el-Dawla, Psychology Professor at Ain Shams University, 103- Dr. Abdel Gelil Mustafa, Professor of Medicine at el-Qasr el-Eini, 104- Dr. Abdel Halim Qandeel, Editor of Karama newspaper, 105- Dr. Abdel Hamid Ghazali, Economics professor at Cairo University, 106- Abdel Rahman Moussa, Engineer, 107- Dr. Abdel Ahmad Abdel Fattah, Doctor and Assistant-Secretary of Tagammu Party in Alexandria, 108- Abdel Aziz el-Husseini Engineer and member of Karama Party, 109- Abdel Aziz Makhyoun, Actor, 110- Abdallah el-Sennawi, Editor in Chief of Al-Arabi newspaper

111- Dr. Abdel Wahab el-Messiri, Kefaya Coordinator and university professor, 112- Abeer el-Askari, journalist, 113- Arab Lotfy, Film Director, 114- Ezzat Abdel Moneim Hilal, IT expert, 115- Dr. Azza el-Khamissi, Translator and Researcher, 116- Dr. Aziz Sedqi, former Prime Minister, 117- Aziz Nouh, Engineer, 118- Essam el-Labbad, Engineer, 119- Essam Sultan, Lawyer and Wassat Party member, 120- Essam Sha’aban, Researcher at Socialist Afaq Center, 121- Alaa el-Aswani, Novelist, 122- Alaa Salem, Journalist at Al-Ahram, 123- Alaa el-Kashef, Secretary of Tagammu Party in North Sinai, 124- Emad Amin, Engineer, 125- Emad Mubarak, lawyer and director of the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, 126- Omar el-Maleh, Engineer, 127- Omar Mohamed Ahmad el-Hadi, Journalist, 128- Dr. Amr el-Shalaqani, University Professor, 129- Dr. Amr el-Choubaki, Expert with Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, 130- Dr. Amr Derrag, deputy head of the Teachers’ Association at Cairo University

131- Amr Gharbeia, Blogger, 132- Dr. Faten Fahim, Professor at Zagazig University, 133- Dr. Fathi el-Khamissi, Musician, 134- Farida el-Naqqasah, editor in chief of Al-Ahali, 135- Fahmi Howeidi, Journalist and writer, 136- Dr. Violet Dagher, President of the Arab Committee for Human Rights, 137- Dr. Karima el-Hefnawi, Pharmacist and Karama Party member, 138- Kamal Abu Eita, Tax officer and Karama Party member, 139- Dr. Kamal Habib, journalist and researcher, 140- Kamal Khalil, engineering consultant and director of the Center for Socialist Studies, 141- Lobna Mohamed, 142- Dr. Lamees el-Naqqash, university professor, 143- Dr. Laila Soueif, university professor, 144- Dr. Magda Adli, Doctor, 145- Magda Fathi Rashwan, Lawyer and member of Justice Center for Political and Social Studies, 146- Maher Makhlouf, Engineer and member of the Arab Nationalist Congress, 147- Magdi Ahmad Hussein, General Secretary of Labor Party, 148- Magdi Sa’ad, 149- Dr. Magdi QorQor, Engineer and member of Labor Party, 150- Magdi Mahanna, Journalist and writer, 151- Mahfouz Abdel Rahman, Scenarist and writer, 152- Dr. Mohamed Abul Ghar, Professor of Medicine at el-Qasr el-Eini, 153- Mohamed al-Ashqar, Engineer and Karama Party member, 154- Dr. Mohamed el-Sayyed Said, deputy head of Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, 155- Mohamed Gamal, Administrative development expert, 156- Mohamed Gamal Beshir, Journalist, 157- Mohamed Rashid Fahmi, Student, 158- Mohamed Seif el-Dawla, Engineer, 159- Dr. Mohamed Sharaf, University Professor and Kefaya member, 160- Mohamed Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Engineer, 161- Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim, Engineer and IT consultant, 162- Mohamed Mossa’ad, Advertisement agent, 163- Mohamed Mounir, Journalist, 164- Mohamed Hashem, Publisher, 165- Mohamed Waked, Researcher and member of the Center for Socialist Studies, 166- Dr. Mahmoud el-Lozy, University professor, 167- Mahmoud Atta, Computer specialist, 168- Mahmoud Kamal, teacher, 169- Dr. Madiha Douss, French literature professor at Cairo University, 170- Marwa Ghanem, news editor, 171- Mustafa Singer, Tagammu Party secretary in Sheikh Zoweid, N Sinai, 172- Dr. Mustafa Kamel el-Sayyed, Writer and university professor, 173- Mustafa Masso’ud, engineer, 174- Mamduh Habashy ,engineer, 175- Dr.Mamduh Mostafa, university professor, 176- Mona Ezzat, journalist, 177- Dr. Manar Hussein, Lecturer at el-Qasr el-Eini and member of the Center for Socialist Studies, 178- Manal Khaled, Film director

179- Monzer el-Youssef, student, 180- Maha Effat, Actress, 181- Maha Youssef, Lawyer, 182- Dr. Nader Fergani, Writer and director of Meshkat Center for Studies, 183- Nada el-Qassas, journalist, 184- Nermin Khafagi, Archeologist at the Supreme Council for Antiquities, 185- Nawwara Negm, Journalist, 186- Nora Younis, Blogger, 187- Nola Darwish, founding member of the New Woman Society, 188- Neveen Samir, Administrator, 189- Hani Shukrallah, writer and journalist, 190- Heba Raouf, Cairo University Professor, 191- Hisham Abul Ezz el-Hariri, Member of Tagammu Party Central Committee, 192- Dr. Hisham el-Salamoni, scenarist and playwright, 193- Hisham Fouad, journalist and member of the Center for Socialist Studies, 194- Hend Abul Ezz el-Hariri, Engineer, 195- Haitham Abul Ezz el-Hariri, Engineer and member of the Tagammu Party Alexandria Secretariat, 196- Dr. Haitham Manaa’, spokesperson for the Arab Organization for Human Rights, 197- Wael Khalil, Engineer and member of the Center for Socialist Studies 198- Wael Abbas, Journalist and blogger, 199- Wagdi Abdel Aziz, Director of the South Center for Human Rights, 200- Yasmin Hani Wassfi, Accountant and secretary of the Progressive Youth Union in Alexandria, 201- Dr. Yehya el-Qazzaz, University professor, 202- Yehya Fekri, Engineer and member of the Center for Socialist Studies, 203- Yehya el-Qallash, General secretary of the Press Syndicate, 204- Yehya Megahid, Journalist at Sawt el-Umma, 205- Dr. Yehya Hashem Hassan Farghal, Former head of Islamic Theology Department at Al-Azhar University, 206- Youssef Chahine, Film Director, 207- Alaa Seif, Blogger

208- Manal Hassan, Blogger, 209- Mohamed Khaled, Blogger, 210- Magda Abul Fotouh, Artist, 211- Mohamed Abdel Alim, Wafd Party Member of Parliament, 212- Sa’ad Abboud, Karama Party Member of Parliament.