Government in worrying crackdown on freedom of speech without any protection of activists in Egypt

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AESA Calls for Immediate Halt to Political Activist Persecution in Egypt

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The American Egyptian Strategic Alliance (AESA) calls for the immediate halt to political activist persecution in Egypt. AESA watches with full attention and a wary eye the continuing assault on freedom of speech by a government and a presidency that committed themselves to fulfilling the demands of the Egyptian youth and their revolution.

The recent arrests and arrest warrants issued by the Egyptian government against several political activists and revolution figures such as: Ahmed Maher, Ahmed Doma, Bassem Youssef, Alaa Abdel Fattah, Mona Seif and the many other unnamed and unknown Egyptian youth activists must be reversed. AESA is concerned for them; for their safety; for their release and their return to their families, and for their inalienable right to freedom of speech and expression.

Outright political targeting of opposition figures, unfounded arrest warrants, persecution of political activists and opposition members, demonstrates complete disregard to due process and utter disrespect for the rule of law. Sham lawsuits and arrests are a serious violation of fundamental freedoms and a clear playbook strategy designed to threaten the opposition by fear tactics.

The American Egyptian Strategic Alliance calls on the U.S. government to put strong pressure on President Morsi and his government by asking them to discontinue incarceration and torture of activists. The U.S. government must ask President Morsi to live up to his repeated promises to respect the rule of law in Egypt noting that protections of basic freedoms are the most fundamental rights in a democratic society.

ABOUT AESA
As a 501(c)(4) organization, AESA strives to assist decision makers in defining and shaping U.S. policies towards Egypt, and in furthering the creation and protection of a civil society which is based on the universal values of human dignity, democratic process, freedom of speech and individual rights.

CONTACT:
Randa Fahmy Hudome, General Counsel
American Egyptian Strategic Alliance (AESA)
1100 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 1250
Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone 202-429-5566
Fax 202-429-5577
Email: info@americanegyptiansa.org
https://www.americanegyptiansa.org

SOURCE American Egyptian Strategic Alliance

RELATED LINKS
https://www.americanegyptiansa.org