The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
PRESS
RELEASE
EOHR Condemns Arbitrary Measures Against the Labor Party and its Newspaper |
21 May 2000
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) expresses its strong = condemnation of the sudden decision taken on 20 May 2000 by the = Political Parties Committee (the state body responsible for authorizing = the formation of political parties in Egypt) to freeze the activities of = the Labor Party and suspend its newspaper (Al-Sha=B4b). The Committee = referred to Article 17 of the political parties law, which enables the = authorities to suspend the activities of any party, including the = publishing of its newspaper, as a means of stopping any decision or act = by a party that is contrary to the higher interests of the country. The = Political Parties Committee is an administrative body established under = Article 8 of the political parties law. It is, in practice, affiliated = to the government, since it comprises the head and members of the Shura = Council (the upper chamber of the parliament) and the ministers of = justice and the interior and the state minister for People=92s Assembly = and Shura Council affairs. In addition, it comprises three heads of = judicial institutions who must not belong to any political party. This decision comes directly in the wake of a press campaign by = Al-Sha=B4b condemning the novel, A Banquet for Seaweed, by Syrian writer = Haydar Haydar. The Labor Party paper accused the Egyptian Ministry of = Culture, which published the novel, of blasphemy (al-kafr), leading to = heated demonstrations by Azhar University students. Other related events include the split within the party ranks, with one = group led by Mr. Hamdi Ahmad, a member of the party=92s executive = committee, and the other led by Mr. Ahmad Idris. The Committee, in its = decision, referred to the official complaint brought by the = aforementioned individuals concerning the selection of a new party = chair. The two party members also asked for Al-Sha=B4b to be suspended = from publication and a freeze to be put on the party=92s bank account. = Labor Party Chair Ibrahim Shukri described these demands as illegal. The EOHR believes that the Committee decision to freeze the Labor Party = represents a gross infringement of party life and democracy in Egypt. In = addition, the EOHR considers that the suspension of Al-Sha=B4b = represents a clear violation of the freedom of opinion and expression as = guaranteed by the Egyptian Constitution and the International Covenant = on Civil and Political Rights, which has been ratified by Egypt. The = EOHR renews its complete opposition to control by the executive powers, = through the Political Parties Committee, over party life, whether that = control takes the form of preventing the formation of new political = parties or suspending the activities of existing political parties. 1.. The EOHR condemns the Committee=92s decision and calls for an end = to administrative interference in political party affairs. It is the = responsibility of the judiciary to investigate any contraventions of the = law. 2.. The EOHR calls on all sides, both the government and political = parties to refrain from violating rights and freedoms, which only = weakens the ability of Egypt to face future economic and social = challenges. 3.. Finally, the EOHR calls on the Journalists=92 Syndicate to provide = social protection for Al-Sha=B4b journalists who are now unemployed. The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) E-maileohr@link.com.eg Webpagehttp//www.eohr.org.eg Tel+20-(2)-3636811 +20-(2)-3620467 Fax +20-(2)-3621613
