- Emad Abu Ghazi: Attacks on cathedral a crime by the regime 
-          Priest of Khosos to MCN: Nearly 2000 bullets shot at Copts during attacks

- HR organization calls on UN to send fact-finding committee for cathedral attacks

- U.S. State Department urges President Morsi to honor promises made
- Coptic Solidarity: Morsi culpable in unprecedented attack on Coptic pope’s seat
- Coptic Congregational Council: Egypt’s president should bear responsibility of aggressions against Copts
- Coptic members withdraw from Shura session in protest of accusations against Coptic youth
- National powers march to president palace demanding fall of the regime after cathedral attacks
- Patriarch Sako I stresses coexistence between Muslims and Christians in Iraq
- Pope Tawadros II: Regime took no positive action towards the aggressions, Morsi promised to protect Church but so far no evidence
- Pope Tawadros II cancels Wednesday sermon to mourn Coptic victims 
- Epsicopal Church condemns attacks on Copts, warns of Egypt’s docility towards sedition
- Khosos victim’s sister to MCN: Retribution before condolences


Available at: http://www.mcndirect.com/category.aspx?id=55

Egyptian Rights Defenders at UN: “Human rights crises in Egypt must be addressed”

Egyptian human rights defenders representing the Egyptian NGO Forum, a group of 23 independent Egyptian human rights organizations, have been present at the 22nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva throughout the last week with an urgent appeal.
“The human rights crises in Egypt must be urgently addressed by the United Nations,” stated Ziad Abdel Tawab, deputy director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. “Just because we ousted Mubarak does not mean that the democratization process is finished – in reality, progress towards true democracy has stalled. Serious human rights violations continue to be committed with impunity, and civil society and the media are under unprecedented threat by the government. The country has merely traded one form of authoritarianism for another, albeit with some new features.”
Over the last eight months there have been serious concerns about the extent to which the state of human rights in Egypt has rapidly deteriorated under the leadership of President Mohamed Morsi. Some Egyptian human rights organizations have argued that in many ways, the state of human rights in the country currently appears even direr than it did prior to the revolution and the ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak.
According to members of the NGO Forum, serious human rights violations have become routine in post-revolutionary Egypt, with all segments of the population being affected. Violations of women’s rights and the right to freedom of assembly, association, and expression, as well as practices of arbitrary detention and torture continue to be carried out with impunity.
These representatives of the Egyptian NGO Forum and Egyptian civil society spoke at a UN side event on 11 March. The event included a discussion of the recent attacks against peaceful protestors in Egypt, which some have described as “circles of hell.”
“Women were forcibly removed from the crowds of demonstrators by circles of men who then attacked them with knives and blades, beat them, ripped their clothes off, and raped them. Extreme brutality was used in all cases, leaving at least two women in need of intensive medical care. In two instances, women were raped with a blade,” stated Massa Amir, a researcher at Nazra for Feminist Studies, referring to recent demonstrations in Egypt that were intended to highlight the anniversary of the uprising for democracy in the country.
“The total lack of political will demonstrated by the government to investigate these violations and prosecute perpetrators represents a serious breach to Egypt’s human rights obligations and constitutes a worrying trend for the future of women’s political participation and their involvement in shaping the new Egypt,” said Masa Amir.
While in Geneva, the delegation also addressed the proposed legislation on non-govermental organizations (NGOs) that is currently being discussed by the upper house of parliament. Such laws, if passed, would threaten the viability of independent civil society in Egypt by introducing a slew of unprecedented restrictions, including cutting off access to funding by human rights and development NGOs. “This legislation would constitute a flagrant violation to the right to freedom of association by forcing the majority of independent NGOs in Egypt to either severely cut their activities or to shut down altogether,”said Mohamed Zaree, Program Manager at the CIHRS and member of the NGO Forum’s delegation to Geneva.
Already, civil society organizations are being targeted by the government. In a letter sent to the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, the Ministry of Insurance and Social Affairs referred to instructions issued by the Prime Minister that no “local entity” shall be permitted to engage with “international entities” in any way without the permission of the “security bodies”. These restrictions violate the numerous resolutions passed by the UN calling on states to allow for unhindered access of local civil society organizations to international human rights mechanisms.
The NGO Forum’s delegation further discussed how the right to peaceful protest and assembly is similarly threatened by a draft law currently being discussed in Egypt that employs overly vague language, including banning protests that would ‘block roads’ or ‘prevent people from going to work’. Such broad provisions have been easily manipulated by authorities to restrict assemblies that they do not want to see take place. In practice, Egyptians face major threats when exercising their right to free assembly. Lethal clashes have broken out following the organization of peaceful protests, as such as during the sit-in at the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace, when supporters of the ruling party clashed with demonstrators, leaving at least 11 people from both sides dead and hundreds injured.
Finally, the NGO Forum’s delegation addressed violations to freedom of expression in general, and media in particular, that are committed in Egypt. As Nihad Aboud, who joins the delegation on behalf of the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, points out, “The safety of reporters is nowadays in danger, more that it has ever been. Documented violations include detention, kidnapping, and even death, as with El Hosseiny Abou Deif in December 2012. Various complaints were submitted to the investigative authorities against journalists and other media professionals accusing them with insulting the president, publishing false news, and slander, due to their criticism of the policies of the ruling party. Other violations to media freedom have been committed under the false pretext of defamation of religion. The ruling party seems to be hoping that this will lead to a self-censorship of the media, as was the case under Mubarak.”
Mr. Tawab of CIHRS explains, “We came to Geneva to draw attention to the worsening situation in Egypt and to urge the United Nations Human Rights Council to call upon Egypt to uphold international rights standards and to respect and promote the human rights of Egyptians. Many citizens have and continue to struggle and even give their lives for freedom and democracy. They deserve recognition and protection from the UN Human Rights Council.”
Available at :
http://www.cihrs.org/?p=6172&lang=en

Egypt’s Christians in fear after attack on cathedral

Hundreds of Egyptian Christians were besieged inside Cairo’s Coptic cathedral last night after a mob, reportedly with the help of security forces, launched an attack on worshippers. One person died and 84 were injured during the attack, which began after a funeral mass for five Copts who were killed in sectarian violence on Saturday, in which a Muslim man also died. Wael Eskandar, an Egyptian blogger at the funeral, said he saw people being showered with broken bottles from the roof of a block of flats. After being attacked, he said, the people “started racing out of the side street and destroying the nearby cars”. Last night Egypt’s President Morsi issued a statement, saying he had spoken to Coptic leader Pope Tawadros II and given “I consider any attack on the cathedral as an attack on me, personally.” In a statement following the attack General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom said: “While the Arab Spring and uprising in Tahrir Square were expected to bring about a fresh start for Egypt, the only true difference is that the situation seems to have become progressively worse for many millions of Egyptian citizens. “Today, Egypt saw an unprecedented attack on the See of the Pope of Alexandria, the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Cairo, by mobs, with the police arriving far too late and doing very little, if anything at all, to prevent them.” A reported 100,000 Christians left Egypt last year following the overthrow of President Mubarak in the January 25 Revolution. Available at: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2013/04/08/egypts-christians-in-fear-after-attack-on-cathedral/

URGENT: Clashes break out at funeral of Al Khosous victims in front of St Mark's Cathedral, Al Abassiya

CAIRO — Clashes broke out on Sunday outside the Egyptian capital's Coptic cathedral after funeral prayers were held for four Christians killed in sectarian clashes, witnesses said. They said the mourners who were chanting against the ruling Muslim Brotherhood were pelted with stones as they came out of the cathedral. In a statement, the interior ministry said "a number of mourners began to damage cars in the area which led to confrontations with residents of the area." Television footage showed scenes of chaos outside the cathedral in the central Cairo neighbourhood of Abbassiya where Coptic bishops had been calling for peace and calm after the killing of the Christians on Friday. Loud bangs could be heard, as clouds of smoke rose up into the sky and people ran in several directions. At the service, the congregation chanted against the Muslim Brotherhood of President Mohamed Morsi. "Leave!" they told Morsi as they held up wooden crosses, television footage showed. One Muslim was also killed in the clashes which flared on Friday night in Al-Khusus, a poor area in Qalyubia governorate, after a Muslim in his 50s objected to children drawing a swastika on a religious institute. The man insulted Christians and the cross, and an argument broke out with a young Christian man who was passing by, which escalated into a gunbattle between Muslims and Christians in which assault rifles were used. A priest in Al-Khusus, Suryal Yunan, said attackers torched "parts" of an Anglican church. Muslims also set a Christian home ablaze and ransacked a pharmacy owned by a Copt, a police official said. A number of angry Muslim residents tried to surround the town's Mar Girgis church, but the security presence in the area prevented them from doing so. Both sides then set fire to tyres in the narrow streets where residents live in crowded slum housing. Christians form between six and 10 percent of Egypt's population of nearly 83 million people. The country's Coptic Christians and Muslims have clashed on several occasions since the revolution that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak in February 2011. Around 50 Christians and several Muslims have been killed in the clashes. http://www.copticworld.org/articles/1899/

The American Coptic Union (ACU) Submits a Complaint to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
On August 17, 2010, the ACU issued a complaint on behalf of the oppressed Coptic Christians of Egypt to the OHCHR. This complaint was filed against President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt; Interior Minister Muhammed Habib AlAdley; Chairman of Committee of Policies of the NDP (ruling party) Gamal Mubarak; Speaker of Parliament Fat’hey Suror; and Speaker of Shura Council Safwat ElSherif.


Click to Read English:

http://www.prlog.org/10886181-the-american-coptic-union-acu-submits-complaint-to-un-commissioner-for-human-rig.html


http://www.free-press-release.com/news-the-american-coptic-union-acu-submits-a-complaint-to-united-nations-high-commissioner-for-human-rights-1282798572.html

ACU Media Center
Sherif Shukry,ESQ.

Concluding observations adopted by CEDAW at its 46th session

herewith the Concluding Observations adopted by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women at its recently concluded 46th session, held in New York, from 12 to 30 July 2010, through the listserve administered by the Human RightsTreaties Division, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

For your information, the Concluding Observations are provided in the original language of adoption and unedited version. Final version and translations into additional languages to be found in due course on the Treaty Body Database of the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws46.

Signature campaign for allowing ElBaradei to achieve change escalates in Ramadan

From: Shorouk newspaper
door-knocking campaign in Assiut managed to collect 300 signatures on statement of change "Together we will change", which includes demands to amend the constitution and end the emergency . For more details you can visit. http://www.shorouknews.com/ContentData.aspx?ID=283564

Concluding observations adopted by the Human Rights Cttee at its 99th session

The Concluding Observations adopted by the Human Rights Committee at its recently concluded 99th session, held in Geneva , from 12 to 30 July 2010, through the listserve administered by the Human RightsTreaties Branch, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

For your information, the Concluding Observations are provided in the original language of adoption and unedited version. Final version and translations into additional languages to be found in due course on the Treaty Body Database of the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/hrcs99.htm.

Bahrain: Detaining a Blogger by Royal Incitement The Arabic Network Demands Releasing Abd El Galil Al Singace
From:The Arabic Network

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information condemned today , the Bahraini security arresting of the human rights activist , blogger and academic , Abd El Galil AlSingace,PhD and chairman of the human rights office in Haq movement for rights and freedoms. AlSingace was arrested upon his return from London on 13/8/2010 for allegations of ” disseminating false news about internal affairs in Bahrain and defaming judiciary and executive authorities”. AlSingace took part in a session in the British house of Lords discussing human rights violations in Bahrain.

For more details:
http://www.anhri.net/en/?p=1077

Henger- we will change it - "begins to an opened strike in front of to the Institution of Jails
By: Youm 7
the Youth Movement for Justice and Freedom "Henger" announced the beginning of an open-ended strike in front of the he Institution of Jails on Monday afternoon. The movement asked for protecting Ahmed Doma after being subjected to harassment within the prison- Qata prison. The prison is specified for persons who committed serious crimes and classified as serious dangerous criminals.

For more details:
http://www.youm7.com/News.asp?NewsID=265957&SecID=65&IssueID=126

"Campaign to support Gamal Mubarak," begin collecting signatures tomorrow
By: Youm 7
8/16/2101tomorrow, the campaign "Gamal Mubarak, Egypt is looking forward to a new beginning", which aims to collect five million signatures in support of Secretary of Policies for his candidacy in the presidential election of 2011. 10 thousand signatures are expected to be collected 10 thousand signatures from people of only two electoral districts. For more details: http://www.youm7.com/News.asp?NewsID=266152&SecID=65&IssueID=126

Street campaigns on the rise for both opposition and regime supporters

By: Almasry-Alyoum


Collecting signatures for petitions and distributing leaflets have recently become trademarks of street politics in Egypt among both regime supporters and opposition.

Members of the 6th April movement handed out leaflets yesterday to people leaving the mosques in Mansoura following Friday prayers as part of a campaign entitled “Egypt is Ours”. The statement urged citizens to speak out against oppression and inflation.

The pamphlets also condemned what they described as the failure of the education system, low salaries, the use of violence by the regime to suppress political opposition and the rigging of elections.

Participants were also collecting signatures for the nomination of Mohamed ElBaradei, former chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and for his seven demands for change.

Ahmed al-Bernawi, spokesperson for the movement in Mansoura, said the statement is in the form of a dialogue between two Egyptians discussing these particular social issues. Its purpose is to raise people’s awareness of their political and social rights.

Meanwhile, yesterday, security forces released Mohamed Adel Souka and Yasser al-Sayyed who had been detained for two hours for giving out Ramadan calendars bearing the movement’s logo to passers-by in Downtown Cairo.

In a related development, a number of political activists called for a march in Mansheyya Square in Alexandria today at noon to protest against torture, random arrests and the harassment of political activists, particularly in the local area.

This follows accusations two days ago, by the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) against security forces in Alexandria of kidnapping the political activist coordinating the campaign for the nomination of Hamdein Sabbahi, deputy head of the Karama Party, and detaining him at an unknown location.

Supporters of the regime and its potential presidential candidate Gamal Mubarak, son of the current president, have also resorted to street politics to advertise their cause.

Marwa Hadad, director of the campaign launched earlier this month, entitled “Gamal Mubarak, Egypt is looking to a new beginning”, said the number of people who have physically signed the statement nominating Mubarak junior for the presidency has reached 6000. Added to the 22,000 e-signatures which have also been collected, this brings the total number to over 28,000.



Hadad added that the campaign to collect nominations will hit the streets of Cairo this Monday, beginning with the populous districts of Gammaliya and Mansheyyet Nasser.

Meanwhile, in Sharqiya, the Popular Coalition for the Support of Gamal Mubarak yesterday held a conference in the village of Shabra Soura following Friday prayers. The conference sought to raise awareness of the campaign’s objectives and gather signatures for the coalition’s seven demands.

Ahmed al-Menshawi, general coordinator for the campaign in Sharqiya, said Gamal’s supporters will be required to show their national identity cards and to sign the petition in public. He added that two new branches for the coalition have opened in Sharqiya , raising the total number of branches in this area alone to four.

Saad Ibrahim back in Cairo
By: Almasry-alyoum

Three years have lapsed in U.S., Turkey, Qatar and U.K voluntary exiles. Eventually, Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Professor of Sociology at The American University in Cairo and Founding Director of Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies, Cairo, is back in Cairo with his wife Dr. Barbara Lethem Ibrahim, Founding Director of Gerhart Center for Civic Engagement and Philanthropy, Cairo on a two-week private visit.

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/multimedia/video/saad-ibrahim-back-cairo

"Same old story " Two months ahead of parliamentary polls and the debate in Washington over political reform and human rights in Egypt is heating up
Published on: Al-Ahram Weekly
Publishing Date: Thu, 5/08/2010
By Mohamed Abdel-Baky


Last week the United States Senate saw a bill proposed based on a Congress resolution which calls for widening democracy in Egypt, and abolishing the emergency law.


The bill calls on the US secretary of state to "make human rights and democratic reform in Egypt a top priority in the ongoing relationship and dialogue between the US and the Egyptian government".


The bill also calls upon the US government to allocate more funds to observers monitoring parliamentary elections scheduled in October. And funds coming to Egyptian civil society from the US should no longer be subject to the approval of the Egyptian government, the bill said.
Debate over the draft ended with it being referred to the Foreign Relations committee for further discussion.

"This bill has a good chance to get a big number of votes," a leading US politician told Al-Ahram Weekly, who predicted it would gain approval by September for three reasons.


First, the bill was introduced by both Democrat and Republican senators.
Senator Russell Feingold, Democrat, and Senator John McCain, Republican, were the main sponsors, and it was co- sponsored by Democrat senators Robert Casey, Christopher Dodd, Richard Durbin and Edward Kaufman.


It also uses soft language in addressing Egyptian government policy towards human rights and democratic reform, and is a non-binding resolution, making it less likely that the administration will object to it being passed.
Last month Senator Robert Casey visited Cairo, where parliamentary elections and human rights topped his agenda in talks with Egyptian officials.
"Egypt will face two important sets of elections this year and the following one. I hope that this process will reflect the democratic will of the Egyptian people and should be conducted in a free and transparent manner," Senator Casey said after his visit.


Bahieddin Hassan, director of the Cairo Centre for Human Rights, told the Weekly that if the bill gains approval it will heat the debate in Washington on elections in Egypt.


He added that although the resolution makes no big demands and is non-binding, it would carry a degree of moral force and might encourage the US government to yield to pressure from the media and civil society.


Moufid Shehab, minister of state for legal and parliamentary affairs, said in a conference last week that Egypt has made tangible progress in protecting the human rights. It had amended laws and signed international agreements to protect human rights and stood firmly against any human rights violations.
"Khaled Said’s case is a perfect example. We do not protect anyone who violates the human rights of any Egyptian citizen. Now there are two policemen on trial because they might have made mistakes that caused the death of Said," he said.


Shehab also asserted that the large number of sit-ins that, "we see every day in Egypt is an example of the democratic atmosphere Egyptians enjoy."
The Congress bill comes amid growing debate within Washington’s civil society over US policy to Egypt, lent impetus by The Working Group on Egypt, an association of former senior officials that focuses on US policy towards Egypt in the coming two years.
The group sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in April urging her to "discuss with the Egyptian government US hopes that Egypt will hold genuinely competitive elections". The letter asked the US government to allocate adequate funds to directly support domestic and international monitors. The letter was published in many American papers along with op-eds supporting its proposals.


"The Egyptian government does not care about these debates in Washington, they know how to deal with them," says Wahid Abdel-Meguid, an expert at Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies.
He added that he does not think the US government will pressure Egypt over the upcoming elections as both Washington and Cairo are distracted by pressing regional security issues.

Political Activist Tortured in July 2009 while Tormentors Enjoyed Impunity. Bassem Abu AlMagd Abducted Among Fears of Being Tortured
From: The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
Cairo August 12th , 2010


The Arabic Network for Human Rights information said today that SSI in Alexandria have abducted, on 10/8/2010, the political activist Bassem Abu AlMagd , coordinator of the potential presidential nominee Hamdin Sabbahi. Bassem refused an illegal summoning from an SSI officer in Alexandria. He is detained in an unknown location.

This is the second abduction incident for Bassem. He was abducted earlier in July 2009, where he was tortured and ill-treated by SSI officers for a week to discipline him for being a member in AlKarama Naserite party. Then he was dumped on Cairo Alexandria desert road. Despite filing a communiqué to the Public Prosecutor of the torture incident last year, his tormentors are still at large , which raises fears of him being tortured once more due to the widely spread trend of impunity in Egypt.

Gamal Eid , ANHRI executive director said, ” The public prosecution is compelled to deter police officers of such oppressive and illegal practices . The prosecution represents the whole nation not only the government and state officials. If a political activist is abducted for peaceful advocacy of a potential presidency nominee and no investigation takes place, we can be certain that we are facing a police state where law receives no respect and has no rule”.

Many activists and political powers have called for a peaceful demonstration on 14/8/2010, noon time in Manshiya Square , Alexandria in protest to the escalated illegal arrest and harassment crackdowns against political activists , especially in Alexandria.

(11) Human Rights Organizations Emphasize the Impossibility of Holding Parliamentary and Presidential Elections in the Absence of Neutrality of State

From:ANHRI
The Forum of independent human rights organizations expresses its strong condemnation for the suppression , prosecution and terrorizing of the political activists who call for providing guarantees of transparency and integrity in the parliamentary and presidential elections, and make constitutional amendments which provide competitive and free presidential elections.

In this context, the Forum monitors the infringement on the peaceful march for cars in Alexandria and the repeat arrest , humiliation, physical assault and verbal abuse on the participants in the various aspects of the peaceful protest and to demand political and democratic reform. As well as, the forum monitors the immediate investigation by the general prosecutor in the communiqués filed against public figures as they criticized the government and the NDP, or one of its potential candidates for presidency, despite of the number of the communiqués which exist in the general prosecutor’s office for several decades without investigation.

Accordingly, the undersigned organizations warn of the consequences of restricting access for peaceful expression of ideas and political opponents demands, while supporters of the ruling party and one of its candidates for presidency are empowered to launch elections campaigns freely.
The Forum stresses that double standards , use of the emergency law and an arsenal of laws which restrict freedoms in face of the political opposition groups, casts serious consequences on the future of the political process in Egypt at Crucial turning point.

Accordingly, the Forum of independent human rights organizations calls state agencies to give up the policies , practices of terrorism and the continues harassment of the political activists, under the emergency law, respect the different rights and safeguards to protect the right to freedom of expression , the right of assembly and association, and the full commitment to the principle of neutrality toward competitors.

The Forum reminds the officials in all the state agencies that they do not belong to individuals or a particular party, and they are obliged under the law to be neutral especially at the time of the electoral process, or preparation for it. As well, breach of neutrality ,threatens to undermine the political and legal legitimacy of such elections and its official results.

The undersigned organizations of the members of the Forum of independent human rights organizations:
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
Hisham Mubarak Law Center
the ASSOCIATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS LEGAL AID
Land Center for Human Rights
Nadeem Center for Psychological rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and torture
The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights
Association for Freedom of thought and expression
Andalus Institute for Tolerance and Anti-Violence Studies
Human Rights Association for the Assistance of Prisoners
Arab Penal Reform Organization

"The Horizon for Peaceful Transition toward Democracy in Egypt: The Forthcoming Presidential Election - Challenges and Opportunities"

By: Dr. Ahmed Gaith
The Alliance of Egyptian Americans "AEA" is a US based non-profit, non- governmental organization dedicated to empowering Egyptian Americans to promote: true democracy, sustainable development, and social justice in Egypt. AEA is holding its annual conference: Friday-Sunday, Sept 17-19, 2010 at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in the Nation’s Capitol.

All speeches and deliberations will focus on ways to open up the clogged political process and secure “free and fair” Presidential elections in Egypt. Participants will examine and identify ways to help empower Egyptians to: change Article 76 of the Egyptian Constitution; restore Egyptian voter confidence in the forth coming Egyptian Presidential election; examine the possibility of forming an independent election commission whereby all political parties are represented on equal footing in that Commission; and to insure “free and fair” election procedures. The activities' will be conducted mostly in interactive formats (town hall; round table; workshop).
.
Several noted Egyptian public figures have confirmed their participation in the AEA Conference, including: Dr. Sayed El Badawi, the Head of the Wafd Party with a delegation of Wafd members; Dr. Ayman Nour, former Presidential candidate; Dr. Usama El-Ghazali Harb, the Head of the Democratic Front Party; Mohammad Anwar Sadat, the Head of the Reform and Development Party (under construction); George Ishaaq, Kefya Movement; Samir Eleish, the Head of “MY Vote is My Demand Organization; Mohammad Nousair, Egyptian-American Friendship Association; Margaret Azir, Vice President of the Democratic Front Party; Sarah Mohammad Kamal and Mostafa El-Naggar, Youth of the Egyptian Change Movement; Ibrahim Issa, Chief Editor of AlDastour; Khaled Yousif, reknown movie director; and others.

Mr. Gamal Mubarak and Dr. Moufied Shaab from the National Democratic Party have been invited to participate. Confirmation has not been received to date. Arrangements are pending for Dr. Mohamed El Baradie to speak to the Conference participants via video as his schedule does not permit personal attendance.

For program updates and further information, please visit our website at www.aeamisr.org or contact:
Mr. Mahmoud ElShazely, President, AEA, maelshazly51@hotmail.com
Dr. Ahmed Gaith, AEA Conference Planning Committee Secretary General, am_gaith@cox.net (703) 472-1294
Dr. Serif Nasr, VPresident, New Jersey Chapter, sheriff.nasr@siparadigm.com
Dr. Ibrahim Hussein, Vice President, Mid Atlantic Chapter, imihussein@gmail.com (301) 613-7337
Mr. Amin Mahmoud, AEA Executive, aeamisr@hotmail.com (202)276-4940
Ms. Hanan El Badry, elbadry@att.net

For media-related information, please contact:
English Media: Mokhtar Kamel mokhtarkamel@hotmail.com (703)-501-1398
Arabic Media: Sabry Elbaga, s.albaga@yahoo.com (323) 345-1586

10/10/10: Journee mondiale contre la peine de mort / World Day Against the Death Penalty / Jornada Mundial contra la pena de muerte

By:Florence Bellivier
Deputy Secretary General

Chers membres de la FIDH,

Le 10 octobre prochain 2010 (10/10/10), nous célébrerons la 8ème Journée mondiale contre la peine de mort.

Comme chaque année, nous comptons sur vous pour que cette journée soit un grand succès.
Pour cette édition, la Coalition mondiale contre la peine de mort, forte à présent de 108 membres, et dont la FIDH est partie prenante et membre actif depuis sa création, a choisi de concentrer son attention sur les Etats-Unis car depuis la création de la Journée mondiale, la Coalition alterne les sujets géographiques et thématiques. Toutefois, chaque ligue, chaque militant est appelé à participer à l’aventure de la Journée mondiale car renforcer la tendance vers l’abolition aux Etats-Unis, c’est la renforcer dans le monde qui a bien besoin de vos efforts. Rappelons en effet qu’à ce jour, si 139 pays ont aboli la peine de mort en fait ou en droit, 58 la maintiennent. En 2009, ce sont 18 pays qui ont procédé à des exécutions et environ 2000 personnes qui ont été condamnées dans 56 pays.

Alors, que pouvons-nous, que pouvez-vous faire ?
Dans l’immédiat, je vous invite à aller sur le site de la Coalition mondiale contre la peine de mort : http://www.worldcoalition.org

En bas de la page d’accueil, vous trouverez une rubrique « Huitième journée mondiale ». Consultez-la : vous y trouverez une affiche à télécharger (en 6 langues), des « Faits et chiffres 2010 » qui nourriront votre réflexion et votre action, ainsi qu’un « Kit de mobilisation » qui vous propose 10 idées pour lutter contre la peine de mort dans votre pays.

Pour toute question ou pour nous informer d'une initiative de votre organisation à l'occasion du 10 Octobre, vous pouvez me contacter (florence.bellivier@wanadoo.fr ; copie à ibrachet@fidh.org), ou prendre contact directement avec la Coalition mondiale contre la peine de mort.
Contact :
Aurélie Plaçais : aplacais@abolition.fr

Je vous remercie infiniment de votre contribution et vous prie d’agréer mes cordiales salutations,

Florence Bellivier
Secrétaire générale adjointe

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Dear FIDH members,

On 10 October (10/10/10) we will be celebrating the 8th World Day Against the Death Penalty.

As each year, we are counting on you to make this day a success. The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (108 members, including FIDH, an active stakeholder and member since the beginning) which alternates between geographic subjects and specific themes, has decided to dedicate the 2010 World Day to the United States. Each league, each activist is being invited to participate in this World Day because heightening efforts to have the death penalty abolished in the United States will contribute to efforts the world over where our contributions are badly needed. Although 139 countries have abolished the death penalty, de facto ou de jure, it still exists in 58 countries. In 2009, 18 countries executed prisoners and some 2000 people were sentenced to death in 56 countries.

So what can we do? What can you do?
To begin with, I suggest you visit the website of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty: http://www.worldcoalition.org

At the bottom of the home page, there is a column entitled “Eighth World Day ...”. Look it over. You can download a poster (in six languages), “Facts and Figures 2010” to use in your discussions and actions, as well as a “Mobilisation Kit” that suggests 10 ideas for fighting the death penalty in your country.

If you have any questions or want to tell us about an initiative taken for 10/10/10 by your organisation, contact me at (florence.bellivier@wanadoo.fr with a copy for ibrachet@fidh.org or else contact the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty directly (Aurélie Plaçais : aplacais@abolition.fr).

An immense thank you for your contribution.

Very best wishes,

Florence Bellivier
Deputy Secretary General

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Estimados miembros de la FIDH,

El próximo 10 de octubre de 2010 (10/10/10) celebraremos la VIII Jornada Mundial contra la pena de muerte.

Como cada año, contamos con vosotros para que esta jornada sea un gran éxito.
Para esta edición, la Coalición Mundial contra la pena de muerte, que cuenta en la actualidad con 108 miembros y de la que la FIDH forma parte y es miembro activo desde su creación, ha elegido centrar su atención en los Estados Unidos, ya que, desde la creación de la Jornada Mundial, la Coalición alterna los temas geográficos y temáticos. No obstante, se pide a cada liga y a cada militante que participe en la aventura de la Jornada Mundial porque el refuerzo de la tendencia hacia la abolición en los Estados Unidos supone el refuerzo en todo el planeta, que necesita sin duda vuestros esfuerzos. De hecho, recordemos que en la actualidad, aunque 139 países han abolido la pena de muerte de hecho o de derecho, 58 la mantienen. En 2009, 18 países realizaron ejecuciones y unas 2000 personas fueron condenadas en 56 países.

Por tanto, ¿qué podemos, qué podéis hacer?
De forma inmediata, os invito a visitar el sitio de la Coalición Mundial contra la pena de muerte: http://www.worldcoalition.org

En la parte baja de la página de inicio encontraréis la rúbrica «Octava Jornada Mundial» (en inglés y francés). Consultadla: encontraréis un póster para descargar (en 6 idiomas), «Hechos y cifras de 2010» que alentarán vuestra reflexión y vuestra acción y un «Kit de movilización» que os propone 10 ideas para luchar contra la pena de muerte en vuestro país.

Si tenéis cualquier pregunta o si queréis informarnos de una iniciativa de vuestra organización para celebrar el 10 de octubre, podéis poneros en contacto conmigo (florence.bellivier@wanadoo.fr; copia a ibrachet@fidh.org), o directamente con la Coalición Mundial contra la pena de muerte.
Contacto:
Aurélie Plaçais: aplacais@abolition.fr

Os agradezco infinitamente vuestra contribución y os envío un cordial saludo,

Florence Bellivier
Secretaria General Adjunta