ICDS Board of Trustees Meets to Set the Future Agenda

On the 6th of April, ICDS convened its quarterly meeting of the Board of Trustees at the Center's premise in order to discuss the Center's agenda for the remainder of the year.

Regarding the case of El Ghad party and the detention and incarceration of its Chairman Dr. Ayman Nour, the Board of Trustees maintained that the case was politically motivated. The Board highlighted the fact that El Ghad’s case was referred to the same court district chaired by the same counselor, who previously sentenced ICDS' Chairman to seven years of hard labor. However, all ICDS detainees were released when the case was referred to the highest Court of Cassation, which over-ruled the lower courts. The Court acquitted the defendants of all charges and asserted the Center's constitutional rights to conduct research, receive grants, and freely publish at home and abroad. This historical ruling was a vindication of the Ibn Khaldun Center and, more importantly, a forceful victory for civil society in Egypt. Therefore, the Board's support to El Ghad party and its Chairman emanates from its profound belief in the principles of freedom of expression and assembly.

Concerning the issue of foreign funding, the Board has thoroughly discussed the current and the potential Egyptian and foreign grant offers for the Center's projects. In this regard, the board stressed that such funds should not attach any conditionality in order for the Center to accept them.

In regard to current developments taking place on the Egyptian political arena, the Board tackled the issue of the recent constitutional reform – a cause that has been advocated by the Center throughout the last decade. The Board welcomed the amendment of article 76 and praised President Mubarak’s brave initiative. However, the Board still perceives the move as inadequate in achieving the type of reform that most Egyptians have been longing for. Hence, the Board urged for the amendment of article 77 to restrict the presidential terms to five years and to a maximum of two consecutive terms. Moreover, the Board called for the activation of the article pertaining to the right to hold the president accountable. The Board also demonstrated its interest in having comprehensive constitutional changes- a demand that should be pressed after the imminent Parliamentary elections.

The Board decided to divide ICDS’ Annual Conference, scheduled at the end of June 2005, into several workshops that will tackle the issues of elections and constitutional change in the Arab world. Several interested organizations and public figures from diverse political backgrounds will be invited to participate.

Finally, the Board welcomed all national, regional and international reform initiatives and invited all civil society organizations to form a committee consisting of public figures to monitor the upcoming Egyptian presidential and parliamentary elections.