In view of the recent storm of controversy in the Egyptian media, I am keen to clarify my position on recent events in Egypt, including the misunderstanding over where I stand via-`a-vis Gamal Mubarak’s potential candidacy for the office of President.
The first thing I wish to stress is that nothing has changed since I first raised concerns about efforts to pass power to Gamal a decade ago. Specifically, I remain and will always remain strongly opposed to dynastic succession. I will also continue to work for free, fair and transparent elections in Egypt. I again call on all candidates for the office of President to reject the current constitutional provisions, which effectively block free and fair competition among contenders. While I uphold the right of all Egyptian citizens to run for office, I have also made known my own personal preferences in terms of the currently announced and widely speculated potential candidates for the office of President. I have clearly stated my personal preference for Dr. Muhammad El-Baradei, as I believe he is the person most capable of leading the transition to democracy in Egypt. He is followed in this respect by Dr. Ayman Nour and others. Gamal Mubarak, however, is not on my own personal list of preferred candidates. I regret any confusion that led to misperceptions on where I stand in this matter. However, the fact remains that nothing has changed in my position since the year 2000, for which, as you know, I have paid a high price. I do hope that everyone will understand the distinction between supporting the right of a candidate to run for office and endorsing that candidate for the office. I also hope that this recent controversy will not distract us from the central issue, which remains the need for genuinely free, fair and transparent elections in Egypt with monitors to assure the results are accurate. Thank you.
Associated Press - CAIRO — An Egyptian-American academic and vocal government critic returned to Egypt late Wednesday for his first visit after a three year exile despite outstanding complaints filed against him for damaging Egyptian interests.
Saad Eddin Ibrahim's return is coming at a sensitive period as opposition voices have become more vocal than ever before, especially over rising prices and the widespread belief that President Hosni Mubarak is trying to engineer his son's succession.
Webcast of Dr. Saad's interview on CNN with Christiane Amanpour.
Islam, Obama and the Empty Quarter - Why democracy activists miss George W. Bush
Monday, 17 May 2010 19:22
By SAAD EDDIN IBRAHIM
Published in the Wall Street Journal, May 17, 2010
The term Empty Quarter refers to a desolate stretch of land in the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula. More recently it is aptly used as a metaphor to refer to the quarter of the Muslim world that is still undemocratic. Other Muslim majority countries, such as Indonesia (250 million people), Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nigeria (over 100 million each), and Turkey (80 million) have been steadily democratizing. Most Arab countries, on the other hand, are lagging behind. They make up one fourth of the Muslim world (300 million out of 1.2 billion).
Towards the "militarization" of NGOs: A "fascist" law to strangle civil society
Tuesday, 30 March 2010 10:37
The Egyptian NGO campaign for the Freedom to Associate
Press release by 62 NGOs - Cairo: 22/3/2010
The undersigned non-governmental organizations wish to express their extreme dismay at recent news that the Ministry of Social Solidarity has completed a draft for a new NGO law. According to the latest leaked copy, the bill is more restrictive and draconian than repressive bill already in place. It is expected to pass into law with the approval of the government parliamentary majority in the coming month.
It seems that the haste to pass the bill is attributable to a desire to undermine civil society efforts to monitor the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. Following the abolition of judicial supervision of elections in the last round of constitutional amendments and the government’s refusal to allow international monitors, this step will facilitate further dishonest elections conducted without any meaningful oversight. Some articles of the new bill aim to limit the activities of human rights organizations or shut them down completely by criminalizing all forms of unregistered civic organization.
In view of the recent storm of controversy in the Egyptian media, I am keen to clarify my position on recent events in Egypt, including the misunderstanding over where I stand via-`a-vis Gamal Mubarak’s potential candidacy for the office of President.