MAS Freedom Foundation Delegation Expressed Concerns To Egyptian Embassy and State Department over Human Rights Issues In Egypt

WASHINGTON, DC – Apr. 24, 2007 (MASNET) In a response to the deteriorating climate of human rights violations in Egypt, The Muslim American Society (MAS) Freedom Foundation, along with national leaders from other human rights and peace organizations, met with Egyptian embassy officials and U.S. State Department representatives in separate meetings on April 24th to express deep concerns over growing attacks on civil society dissidents and government opponents in Egypt.

Members of the delegation included Mahdi Bray, the MAS Freedom Foundation Executive Director, Ibrahim Ramey, the Human and Civil Rights Director of the Freedom Foundation, Jean Stokan, National Policy Director of Pax Christi USA, and long-time national civil rights leader and former member of congress Walter Fauntroy.

The delegation was organized as a part of the larger Human Rights in Egypt Campaign initiated by the Freedom Foundation earlier this year.

Imam Bray, the principal spokesperson for the group, asserted that the Freedom Foundation “spoke not only for a large community American Muslims, but also for a broad community of civil and human rights organizations in the nation that are responding to the grave situation of beatings, torture, and the subversion of democracy in Egypt.”

The delegation pointed out to both State Department and Embassy officials evidence collected from numerous U.S. and international human rights organizations, as well at the State Department, all accusing the Egyptian government of systematic violations of the human rights of political opponents, dissidents, journalists, and students.

“We are especially outraged over the attempts to undermine the independence of the judicial system in Egypt, the growing use of military tribunals in Egypt, and the many reported incidents of sexual abuse, including rape, of women detained by Egyptian security forces” added Imam Bray.

The delegation also mentioned the enormous commitment of U.S. tax dollars to Egypt (now $1.7 billion a year), and the obligation of taxpayers in the United States to insure that this aid not be used to support the broad attack on human rights evidenced by the recent conduct of the Mubarak government.

The MAS Freedom Foundation is planning to meet in the near future with U.S. congressional leaders on the issue, and a high-level MAS Freedom Foundation delegation, made up of U.S. religious and civil rights leaders, may also visit Egypt later this Spring.