173 Articles
CAIRO: Internal conflicts among members of the Kefaya movement for change have resurfaced as the deadline for electing a new general coordinator approaches, with Abdel Halim Qandil’s tenure coming to a close this month. Tensions are boiling as Qandil, the movement’s current general coordinator, is adamant on retaining his seat for another year, while some …
CAIRO: The Egyptian Union of Human Rights Organization on Tuesday called on parliament to form a committee to investigate the sectarian clashes in Qena last month, where Christian-owned shops were burned and looted. Last month, a Christian man was held by police for allegedly raping a 12-year-old Muslim girl in Farshout, Qena, triggering a burning …
CAIRO: Following what they described ” an unprecedented escalation in sectarian violence, the Egyptians Against Religious Discrimination (MARED) public movement called for establishing a public committee advocating national unity. The cross-cultural movement said the committee should include representatives of political parties and civil society organizations as well as public figures who would devise a strategy …
CAIRO: The coalition of opposition parties put forth seven demands to guarantee free and fair parliamentary elections in 2010. The coalition includes Al Tagammu, Al Wafd, the Nasserist and the Democratic Front Parties. While they are waiting for their demands to be met, coalition members have not yet indicated whether or not they will participate …
CAIRO: Fifty children of Christian converts have requested the Administrative Court to change their religion back to Christianity on official papers, after it was automatically changed to Islam upon their fathers’ conversion. The court is scheduled to look into their case on Dec. 1. The children, now 16, are requesting the court to reconsider their …
CAIRO: The movement “No to Selling Egypt has launched a campaign to collect LE 20,000 from the public to pay the fine imposed on independent MP Alaa Abdel-Moneim by a court order as compensation to former Housing Minister Mohamed Ibrahim Soleiman. “The movement ‘No to Selling Egypt’ is calling upon all honest Egyptians to support …
CAIRO: The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) launched a campaign against the mistreatment of lawyers by police officers and the absence of adequate laws to protect them. The organization expressed its concern towards “the increasing assaults on lawyers while on the job. A report issued by the organization last Thursday cited several violations that …
CAIRO: A Christian mother filed a lawsuit in the Administrative Court on Tuesday demanding that her 15-year-old twin sons’ religion be changed back to Christianity in official documents. The next hearing will be held on Jan. 19, 2010. Andrew and Mario were forced to follow their father’s religion when he converted to Islam five years …
CAIRO: Muslim convert to Christianity Maher El-Gohary filed a lawsuit in the Administrative Court last Thursday after he was banned from traveling abroad with his daughter. El-Gohary filed the case against Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and Minister of Interior Habib El Adly when he was prohibited from traveling on Sept. 17, and again on Sept. …
CAIRO: The recently formed movement “Egyptians for Fair and Free Elections is calling for international supervision over Egypt’s parliamentary and presidential elections in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The movement sent requests to US Carter Center, the African Union and the European Union, George Ishaq, the movement’s official spokesperson and former coordinator of the Kefaya movement, …
CAIRO: The Prosecutor General ordered on Thursday afternoon the release of three members of the April 6 Youth Movement after their arrest earlier in the day. According to the head of the legal unit at the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information Rawda Ahmed, the official police report accused the three of propogating false news, …
CAIRO: Head of Al-Ghad party and former presidential candidate Ayman Nour was banned from traveling to the United States Wednesday upon the decree of Prosecutor General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud. Mahmoud said that Nour, who was released from prison on health grounds in February, is not allowed to travel. In a press conference held at his …
CAIRO: The wives and mothers of over 100 detained fishermen protested amid heavy security presence in front of Parliament Sunday, demanding their release. Despite court orders for their release, the fishermen’s detention period was renewed on charges of assisting illegal immigration operations, by using their boats to transport illegal immigrants through Egyptian ports. In the …
CAIRO: The Kefaya Movement for Change has taken serious measures to launch a legal battle against Gamal Mubarak, inquiring about the source of his wealth and accusing him of taking up political roles that they claim are unconstitutional. The movement formed a legal committee tasked with outlining the methods and mechanisms necessary to officially put …
CAIRO: Fifty-seven-year old brigadier-general Ahmed Ghanem resigned from his position at the ministry of interior to join opposition party Al-Ghad, pledging to run for parliamentary elections scheduled for next year. “I applied for early retirement to join Al-Ghad and to have enough time to pursue a political career, Ghanem told Daily News Egypt, who until …
CAIRO: A number of young activists, mainly members of the opposition party Al-Ghad, launched an online radio station last Wednesday called “Al-Mahrousa. The official launch of the channel is scheduled for Oct. 6 to coincide with celebrations of the 1973 October war victory in which Egypt defeated Israel and retrieved Sinai. Meanwhile, another group of …
CAIRO: Egyptian satellite company Nilesat recently approved the launch of three Coptic television channels amid fears by right groups that extremist waves will gain ground in space. Aghaby, which represents the Egyptian Orthodox Church, started broadcasting last Wednesday. The two other channels are Al-Malakoot, representing the Evangelical Church, and CTV which is owned by deputy …
CAIRO: The Egyptian Union for Human Rights (EUHR) has proposed the formation of an International Coptic Congress that includes members of prominent organizations, blocs as well as independents from around the world. The move aims to unify the efforts of the Coptic Diaspora worldwide. EUHR said the congress should adhere to international human rights standards …
CAIRO: As the effects of the global economic downturn take their toll on Egyptians, the Civil Watchdog for Human Rights launched a new program under the title “The Right for Food, to confront the “constant deterioration of citizens’ rights to secure sufficient amounts of food. While prices have soared at unprecedented rates, incomes have remained …
CAIRO: A prophecy suggesting that Pope Shenouda would die last Sunday left members of the Egyptian Orthodox Church and the larger Coptic community worried about the authenticity and the source of the rumor. As a result, a committee was formed by the Pope, including a number of close associates, to probe into the source of …
CAIRO: In an early sign of protest, the Kefaya Movement for Change launched a campaign calling for the boycott of parliamentary elections that are due to be held next year as well as the 2011 presidential elections. During Friday’s coordination committee meeting, members of the movement agreed to file a lawsuit to the Administrative Court …
CAIRO: The Moroccan embassy in Cairo refused to issue an entry visa to rights activist and head of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) Gamal Eid on Thursday, without giving a reason. In a statement released Thursday, ANHRI said the Moroccan government has denied Eid entrance. Employees at the embassy told him there …
CAIRO: After nearly four months of shying away from notoriety and public eyes, media figure Gamila Ismail plans to make a comeback as she is currently looking into three offers from private satellite TV channels. “I want to reassume my career in the media through a special program; I will focus on social issues and …
CAIRO: A new group’s call for international observers to monitor local elections has arguably highlighted a rift within the Kefaya Movement for Change. Kefaya co-founder and assistant coordinator George Ishaq launched a campaign titled “My Voice, My Demand, adopting reformist ideas that call for the presence of international observers during local elections to guarantee a …
CAIRO: The defense team representing the 26 alleged members of a “terrorist cell arrested last week filed on Monday a complaint to the State Council’s Administrative Court against interior minister Habib El Adly requesting him to unveil the whereabouts and the reasons behind the group’s arrest. The suspects include 25 Egyptians and a Palestinian. Protesting …
CAIRO: Tension resurfaced as the administrative court prepares to reexamine the case of Mohamed Ahmed Hegazy, a Muslim who converted to Christianity and is requesting the religious affiliation field be left blank on his national ID. The court hearing next Sunday comes after Hegazy’s first plea – requesting that his name be changed to Bishoy …
CAIRO: The Ministry of Administrative Development’s recent decision to assign “an anti-corruption commissioner to overlook ministries and government bodies generated varied responses from civil, political and rights groups. The ministry’s transparency and integrity committee’s decision was viewed by some as a step in the right direction to combating corruption in Egypt, while others deemed it …
CAIRO: Ahmed Maher, general coordinator of the April 6 Youth Movement, was forced to step down on Saturday ahead of the movement’s general elections scheduled for next month, in the latest sign of internal tensions. A temporary administrative committee will lead the movement until the board elections take place in July, a decision that was …
CAIRO: Residents of the Minya village of Deir Abu Hanas celebrated the governor’s decision to keep the village’s name, after Minister of Justice’s decision to change it to Wadi Al Na’na’ promoted widespread protest among its predominantly Christian community. The decision by Governor Ahmed Diaa El Din Monday night to reverse Minister Mamdouh Marei initial …
CAIRO: Opposition forces, including Kefaya, are planning on staging protests during US President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to Egypt on June 4. Obama is set to address the Muslim world from Egypt next June, the White House announced last Friday. Activists as well as public figures started holding meetings to prepare for these protests, Abdel …