Press release
Cairo:22/2/2003 

Anti-War efforts under attack  

Further arrests of anti-Iraqi war activists

The EOHR is deeply concerned by news of the ongoing arrests of anti-Iraqi war activists in Egypt. On 19 February 2003, EOHR learned that Egyptian security forces had arrested Kamal Khalil, a leader of the Egyptian anti-war movement and director of the Socialist Studies Center. More troubling is that Mr Khalil’s whereabouts remain unknown and his health condition is unstable.

 The arrests of anti-Iraqi war activists have increased during the last two months and in addition to Mr Khalil, 14 people remain in detention. EOHR has previously highlighted the peaceful nature of the anti-war protests and the danger the emergency law poses to citizens’ freedom of expression contained in the Egyptian Constitution.

 EOHR calls for the immediate release of Mr Khalil and other prisoners of conscience and opinion. Moreover, EOHR affirms the necessity of the Egyptian authorities to respect the right to peaceful expression of opinion and assembly. Additionally, the authorities should respond to the popular and just demand for the cessation of the emergency law in order to return the rule of law to Egypt.