August 3, 2000

The Honorable Farouk Seif El Nasr
Minister of Justice
Midan Lazoghly
Cairo, EGYPT

Dear Minister:

I am writing to express the concern of the New York Academy of Sciences' Committee on Human Rights regarding the arrest on June 30, 2000, of Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim, a sociology professor at the American University in Cairo, and founder and director of the Ibn Khaldun Center of Developmental Studies.

State security forces raided his house and the Ibn Khaldun Center, confiscated some of the Center's account files, computer disks, computers, a safe, pamphlets and personal documents. Dr. Ibrahim was charged with improperly collecting funds from international sources to prepare provocative propaganda against Egypt.

Dr. Ibrahim is an internationally respected advocate for greater democracy and for the protection of human rights in the Middle East. The Center conducts commissioned research on democratization issues. Suppressing legitimate political debate is in direct violation of several international treaties, including the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Egypt on August 4, 1967.

We are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim on the grounds that he was arrested solely for exercising his rights to freedom of expression. I respectfully await your reponse to this matter of importance not only to our committee, but to the international scientific community as a whole.

The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, nonprofit, global membership organization committed to advancing science, technology, and society worldwide. Established in 1817, the Academy is the oldest scientific organization in New York, and the third oldest in the nation.

Sincerely,

Joseph L. Birman
Chairman, Committee on Human Rights of Scientists

November 29, 2000

The Honorable Fourak Seif El Nasr
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
Midan Lazoghly
Cairo, EGYPT

Dear Mr. Minister:

I am writing to you again regarding the case of Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim and 27 of his associates at the Ibn Khaldun Center for Developmental Studies. His trial is now scheduled for January 2001, and we are asking that Dr. Ibrahim and his associates be allowed to access all documents and files in the Center as well as to any documents confiscated in the investigation, so that they may prepare their defense. We are also requesting that the case against Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim and his associates, be taken out of the State Security Court where due process is limited and the defendents do not have a right to appeal, and be heard in the Egyptian civil court system.

Suppressing legitimate political debate is in direct violation of several international treaties, including the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights ratified by Egypt on August 4, 1967.

I respectfully await your response to this matter of importance not only to our community but to the international scientific community.

The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, nonprofit, global membership organization committed to advancing science, technology, and society worldwide. Established in 1817, the Academy is the oldest scientific organization in New York, and the third oldest in the nation. It is an international organization with nearly 30,000 members in more than 150 countries.

Sincerely,

Joseph L. Birman
Chairman, Committee on Human Rights of Scientists

May 23, 2001

The Honorable Farouk Seif El Nasr
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
Midan Lazoghly
Cairo, EGYPT

Dear Mr. Minister:

I am writing again to express the concern of the New York Academy of Sciences' Committee on Human Rights, that the trial of Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim and his associates of the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies did not meet international standards of fairness because it was tried in the State Security Court where due process is limited and the defendents do not have a right to appeal.

The sentencing of Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim on May 21, 2001 to seven years in prison appears to be part of a larger attemby by Egyptian authorities to stifle political dissent and intimidate human rights defenders.

The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, nonprofit, global membership organization committed to advancing science, technology, and society worldwide. Established in 1817, the Academy is the oldest scientific organization in New York, and the third oldest in the nation. It is an international organization with nearly 30,000 members in more than 150 countries.

Sincerely,

Joseph L. Birman
Chairman, Committee on Human Rights of Scientists

June 27, 2002

His Excellency Mohammed Hosni Mubarak
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Abdeen Palace
Cairo, EGYPT

Your Excellency:

We are writing again to voice our deep distress over the retrial of Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim, which began on April 27, 2002 in Cairo. Over a year ago he was convicted of intentionally harming the image of the State abroad. However, in February 2001, Egypt's highest appeals court granted a retrial after finding six different aspects of the original court's decision to be flawed.

Dr. Ibrahim is a sociology professor at the American University in Cairo and is the founder and director of the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies. He was originally convicted in May 2001 for illegally accepting funds from the European Union, designated for a pro-democracy documentary that details corruption in Egypt's voting practices.

Suppressing legitimate political debate is in direct violation of several international treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Egypt ratified on 4 August 1967. This action is also contrary to Article 6 of the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (the Defenders Declaration) adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 8 March 1998. Although not legally binding, the Defenders Declaration directly affirms the international standard of protecting the rights of human rights defenders, like Dr. Ibrahim.

We are requesting that all charges against Dr. Ibrahim be dropped as it appears that he is being charged solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression.

The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, nonprofit, global membership organization committed to advancing science, technology, and society worldwide. Established in 1817, the Academy is the oldest scientific organization in New York, and the third oldest in the nation. It is an international organization with nearly 30,000 members in more than 150 countries.

Sincerely,
Joseph L. Birman
Chairman, Committee on Human Rights of Scientists

August 7, 2002

His Excellency Mohammed Hosni Mubarak
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Abdeen Palace
Cairo, EGYPT

Your Excellency:

I am writing as the chairman of the New York Academy of Science's Committee on Human Rights to express our deep concern and distress that during the second trial of Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim, he was again persecuted solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression.

Professor Ibrahim, who is 63 years old, is suffering from a serious neurological disorder for which he requires and has requested medical treatment abroad. We are appealing to you to release Dr. Ibrahim on humanitarian grounds, so that he can travel abroad to seek medical attention.

I respectfully await your response to this matter of great importance to the international scientific community.

The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, nonprofit, global membership organization committed to advancing science, technology, and society worldwide. Established in 1817, the Academy is the oldest scientific organization in New York, and the third oldest in the nation. It is an international organization with nearly 30,000 members in more than 150 countries.

Sincerely,
Joseph L. Birman
Chairman, Committee on Human Rights of Scientists