Egypt

But US Needs Stronger Message for Repressive Regional Allies

June 4, 2009 -- (Cairo) – President Barack Obama’s much-anticipated June 4, 2009, speech to the Muslim world avoided confronting authoritarian governments directly, but sent a welcome message that Washington would not let the prospect of empowering Islamist parties deter it from supporting democracy in the region, Human Rights Watch said today.    » read more »

June 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Ted Kaufman (D-DE), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement following President Obama's speech in Cairo earlier today:

"I applaud President Obama's historic speech earlier today in Cairo, which signaled that America is ready to begin a new era of mutual respect, understanding, and dialogue with the Muslim world. In his speech, President Obama reaffirmed America's commitment to resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict, and reminded regional leaders of their responsibilities to cultivate an atmosphere of greater tolerance, security, and peace.    » read more »

Remarks by the President on a New Beginning

June 4, 2009 -- Cairo University -- Cairo, Egypt -- PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you very much. Good afternoon. I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning; and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. And together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress.

I'm grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. And I'm also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: Assalaamu alaykum. (Applause.)    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- Total announced last week that, within the framework of the EGAS 2008 international bid round organized by the Egyptian authorities, it has been awarded a 90% participation in and the operatorship of Block 4 (East El Burullus Offshore) in conjunction with partner ENEL (10%). This award is subject to approval by the competent authorities.

This block is located in the Mediterranean Sea, in the Nile Basin, and covers an area of 2,516 square kilometres, and is situated approximately 70 kilometres from the coast in water depths varying from 100 to 1,600 metres. The Nile basin is a prolific area where numerous gas discoveries have already been made.    » read more »

Human Rights Watch Researchers Saw Ibn Al-Sheikh Al-Libi in Late April

May 11, 2009 -- (New York) – The Libyan authorities should carry out a full and transparent investigation of the reported suicide of the Libyan prisoner Ali Mohamed al-Fakheri, also known as Ibn al-Sheikh al-Libi, Human Rights Watch said today.

Al-Libi, who was held in secret US and Egyptian detention from late 2001 to at least 2005, was found dead in his cell in Abu Salim prison in Tripoli. Human Rights Watch spoke with him briefly in the Tripoli prison on April 27, though he refused to be interviewed.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today said that he will attend the Group of Eight (G8) Agricultural Ministerial in Treviso, Italy, April 18-20.

"Hunger and malnutrition afflict more than one billion people around the world, causing human suffering, political instability and economic stagnation," said Vilsack. "This ministerial affirms our strong commitment to global food security and provides a unique opportunity to work with other agriculture ministers in developing a shared strategy to deal with food security issues."    » read more »

27 January 2008 -- There was a chaotic scene Saturday at the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. Egyptian security forces practically abandoned the border after clashes erputed with Palestinians on Friday when they tried to close it down. They tried instead to keep the Palestinians from leaving the border town of Rafah. Hundreds of thousands of Gazans continued to flood across into Egypt to buy food and vital supplies during an Israeli blockade that has lasted more than a week.    » read more »

25 January 2008 -- Egypt has increased security around its now open border with the Gaza Strip, as Palestinians poured into the country for a second straight day to stock up on food, fuel and household supplies.

Egyptian border guards patrolled access roads to the region Thursday, preventing Palestinians from moving beyond border-area markets. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have crossed into Egypt to visit relatives and buy goods that have been scarce since Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip last week.    » read more »

12 November 2007 -- Human rights groups are urging the Egyptian government to lift restrictions on religious freedom that discriminate against those who do not belong to one of three recognized religions.

Basma Moussa has not had a national ID card since 2004, when Egypt's Interior Ministry refused to issue her one unless she changed her religion. Moussa is an Egyptian member of the Baha'i faith, a monotheistic religion that developed in Iran in the 19th century.    » read more »

(New York, September 18, 2007) – The Egyptian government’s decree dissolving one of the country’s leading human rights organizations is an affront to freedom of association, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called on Egyptian authorities to reverse their decree closing the Association for Human Rights Legal Aid (AHRLA).    » read more »

09 August 2007 -- Egyptian authorities have detained two Coptic Christian activists suspected of posting anti-Islamic messages on a Christian website.

Lawyers for Adel Fawzi and Peter Ezzat say security officers arrested the two at their homes in Cairo on Wednesday. Police sources confirmed the arrests.

Fawzi and Ezzat are senior members of the Cairo branch of the Canada-based Middle East Christian Association.

It was not immediately known which web postings led to their arrests.    » read more »

Jerusalem, 29 July 2007 (By Jim Teeple) -- Israel's Prime Minister on Sunday said he has no objections to a proposed massive U.S. arms sale to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States. VOA's Jim Teeple reports from Jerusalem.

Israel has long expressed wariness over U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, but Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says the proposal by the U.S. to sell $20 billion worth of advanced weaponry to Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf states is understandable.    » read more »

30 July 2007 (By VOA News) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has announced a proposed $13 billion military aid deal with Egypt and a $30 billion military package for Israel.

Rice made the announcement in Washington before leaving Monday with Defense Secretary Robert Gates on a trip to the Middle East to seek support for stabilizing Iraq.

Rice said the military assistance deals with Egypt and Israel will be for a 10-year period. She also said the U.S. is forging new assistance agreements with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states.    » read more »

Promises of Humane Treatment Insufficient to Override Federal Court Finding

(New York, June 1, 2007) – The United States government should not override a federal court ruling and deport an Egyptian man based on vague promises that he will not be tortured on return, Human Rights Watch said today. Not only does the US State Department’s own Country Report on Egypt describe torture in detention centers as “common and persistent,” but Egypt has breached assurances against such abuse in the past.    » read more »

Video Interviews Describe Torture of Brotherhood Detainees

(Cairo, May 30, 2007) – The Egyptian government has intensified its arrest campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood ahead of elections to the upper house of parliament, Human Rights Watch said today, as the organization released video interviews with former Brotherhood detainees.    » read more »