Over 220 Global Organizations Call for Immediate Release of Seven Imprisoned Women Human Rights Defenders in Egypt

Tweet now! #FreeEgyptWHRDs #NoProtestLaw

In the lead up to the October 11th trial of seven Egyptian women human rights defenders (WHRDs), who have been detained since June 21, 2014 on charges of violating Egypt’s strict Protest and Public Assembly Law, over 220 women’s and human rights organizations representing nearly 70 countries issued a statement demanding their immediate release.

The signatories to the statement, which include local, national, regional and international groups from across the globe, urge the Egyptian authorities to unconditionally release the WHRDs and drop all charges against them and others detained for exercising rights to peaceful assembly.  Those signing the statement also strongly urged Egyptian authorities to revise the Protest and Public Assembly Law, which severely limits freedom of expression, assembly and association rights of Egyptians, to bring it in line with the Egyptian Constitution and African and international human rights standards.  Egyptian authorities have in the past year taken a tough stance against civil society groups and civil activism, including public protests. Human rights organizations inside the country and internationally have criticized Egyptian authorities for what they view as serious repressive policies when it comes to civil society activism and public civic engagement and have repeatedly encouraged the adoption of measures that encourage civic participation and free expression and are in line with the spirit of the January 2011 Egyptian Revolution.  

The text of the statement and the signatories appear below. Those interested in adding their names to the list of signatories can do so at this link:

http://goo.gl/forms/55wChTGZWr.

Those interested in publicizing the statement are encouraged to post it on their websites and to distribute it broadly to their networks including to media outlets. The hashtag #FreeEgyptWHRDs can be used in this regard on social media.

The text of the statement follows:

Free Egyptian Women Human Rights Defenders

We, the signatories to this statement representing women’s rights and human rights organizations internationally and based in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, call upon Egyptian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Yara Sallam, Sanaa Seif, Hanan Mustafa Mohamed, Salwa Mihriz, Samar Ibrahim, Nahid Sherif (known as Nahid Bebo) and Fikreya Mohamed (known as Rania El-Sheikh), seven women human rights defenders (WHRDs) detained since June 21, 2014 on charges of violating the Protest and Public Assembly Law. We strongly urge Egyptian authorities to unconditionally drop all charges against these WHRDs, and other human rights defenders, relating to the legitimate exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Further, we call on the Egyptian authorities to revise the Protest and Public Assembly Law in accordance with the Egyptian Constitution and international standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights.

Background:

On June 21, 2014, the seven WHRDs were arrested in Heliopolis, Cairo on the sidelines of and in relation to a peaceful protest against the Protest and Public Assembly Law. After using tear gas and birdshot to disperse the crowd, the police arrested Yara Sallam, Sanaa Seif, Hanan Mustafa Mohamed, Salwa Mihriz, Samar Ibrahim, Nahid Sherif and Fikreya Mohamed, in addition to several other human rights defenders. Since their arrest, they have been detained in Qanater women’s prison. The charges against all those detained stem from the Protest and Public Assembly Law and include: participating and organizing an unauthorized demonstration that “threatened public security”, “use of force and violence to terrorize and intimidate citizens”, and "intentional destruction of property".

The first session of their case, also known as the Ittihadia Presidential Palace Case, was held on June 29, 2014. During this hearing, the judge adjourned the session and postponed it until September 13, 2014. At the second session, on September 13, 2014, the prosecution’s evidence was presented to the court. The defense attorneys requested the postponement in order to allow a technical expert to examine and determine the veracity of the video footage evidence presented during the session. The judge again postponed the trial until October 11, 2014, at which time the defense is supposed to be given an opportunity to present its case.

As a result of these delays, these seven WHRDs have remained in prison for over three months pending investigations. Two of the detainees, Ms. Fikreya Mohammed and Ms. Sanaa Seif, were on hunger strike to protest their arbitrary arrest. Ms. Seif’s hunger strike began on August 28 and Ms. Mohammed began her strike on September 11, 2014, and latest news is that she has had to suspend her hunger strike. As a result, both face serious health risks and are extremely weak.

It should be noted that while in detention, the father of Sanaa Seif, prominent Egyptian HRD Ahmed Seif El-Islam passed away. He was also the father of prominent Egyptian HRD Alaa Abdel Fattah, who was recently released on bail.

Signatories to the statement:

Organization Name

Country

1.        1325 Action Group

Nepal

2.        ABANTU FOR DEVELOPMENT

Ghana

3.        ABIA

Brazil/USA

4.        Access Chapter 2

South Africa

5.        ACDemocracia

Ecuador

6.        ACEP

New Zealand

7.        ACT

Egypt

8.        Action Canada for Population and Development

Canada

9.        Acuarelas, Mujeres en Movimiento Asociación Civil

Argentina

10.     ACUNS Vienna

Austria

11.     Advocacy for Widows Empowerment Foundation (ADWEF)

Nigeria

12.     Advocates for Youth

USA

13.     Afghan Women's Network (AWN)

Afghanistan

14.     African Women’s Active Nonviolence Initiatives for Social Change (AWANICh)

Ghana

15.     AIDOS. Italian Association for Women in Development

Italy, The Middle East

16.     Akahata A.C.

Argentina

17.     Alliances for Africa

Nigeria

18.     Alternativas Pacificas AC

Mexico

19.     AMDH

Morocco

20.     Amnesty International Nepal

Nepal

21.     Amnistía Internacional

Venezuela

22.     Ankiram Woman and Child development Society

India

23.     Asamblea de Mujeres de Quito

Ecuador

24.     Asia-Japan Women's Resource Center

Japan

25.     Associação ComuniDária

Portugal

26.     Association Dea Dia

Serbia

27.     Association for Progressive Communications

South Africa/International

28.     Association of War Affected Women

Sri Lanka

29.     Association Tunisienne Femmes Démocrates (ATFD)

Tunisia

30.     AWID (Association for Women's Rights in Development)

International

31.     Azidi Solidarity and Fraternity League

Iraq

32.     Barbra Schlifer Clinic

Canada

33.     Beit el Hanane

Lebanon

34.     BRIDGE, IDS

United Kingdom

35.     Bridges for Women

Iran

36.     Calala Women's Fund

Spain

37.     Cambodian Center for Human Rights

Cambodia

38.     Catapult

USA

39.     CEE Network for Gender Issues

Slovenia

40.     CEJIP

Bolivia

41.     Center for Gender Studies

Ethiopia

42.     Center for Health and Gender Equality

USA

43.     Center for Peace Education, Miriam College

Philippines

44.     Centre for Action Research

Pakistan

45.     Centre for Economic Social Cultural Rights in Africa (CESCRA)

Uganda

46.     Centre for Research, Advocacy, Women and Youth Development

Nigeria

47.     Centre for Secular Space (CSS)

United Kingdom

48.     Centro de Información y Servicios de Asesoría en Salud

Nicaragua

49.     Centro de Promoción y Estudios de la Mujer Andina "Lulay" - CEPEMA "Lulay"

Peru

50.     Change for Equality

Iran

51.     CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation

International

52.     C AL Network

South Africa/Africa, regional

53.     Colectiva Ciudad y Género AC

Mexico

54.     Colectiva Feminista en Construcción

Puerto Rico

55.     Colectiva Feminista para el Desarrollo Local

El Salvador

56.     Colectivo Feminista Panteras Rosas

Nicaragua

57.     Collation on Rights and Responsibilities of Youth

Pakistan

58.     Comercio Justo

Uruguay

59.     Consutoría Multidisciplinaria en Desarrollo Humano

México

60.     Coordinadora Paz para la Mujer

Puerto Rico

61.     Corporación Red Nacional de Mujeres Comunales, Comunitarias, Indígenas y Campesinas de la República de Colombia

Colombia

62.     Crossroads International

Canada

63.     Department of Women Affairs

Bangladesh

64.     Development and Leadership Centre

Lesotho

65.     Development Organization for Community DOC

Pakistan

66.     Development Organization for Social Transformation (DOST)

Pakistan

67.     EIMAN

UK

68.     Euroregional Center for Public Initiatives

Romania

69.     FDH-NGABO asbl

Democratic Republic of Congo

70.     Federation for Women and Family Planning

Poland

71.     FeministsSA.com

South Africa

72.     FGHR

India

73.     FOCO INPADE

Argentina

74.     FOKUS - Forum for Women and Development

Norway

75.      UN CEDAW Committee

Bangladesh

76.     Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG)

Uganda

77.     Freischwimmen e.V.

Germany

78.     FRIDA | The Young Feminist Fund

México

79.     Front Line Defenders (FLD)

Ireland

80.     Fundacao Feto iha Kbiit Servisu Hamutuk (FFKSH)

Timor-Leste

81.     Getting Right for Every Runaway Child

UK

82.     Global Concerns India

India

83.     Global Fund for Women

San Francisco

84.     Global Network of Women Peacebuilders

USA

85.     Good Shepherd Centre for Teenage Mothers

Lesotho

86.     Gulf Foundation

Netherlands/Gulf region

87.     Haurralde Fundazioa

Spain

88.     Hisar Anadolu Support Society (HADD)

TURKEY

89.     Human Rights First

USA

90.     Humanist Institute for Co-operation with Developing Countries (Hivos)

The Netherlands

91.     Humanity Support Foundation

Pakistan

92.     Hunger Reduction International

Somalia

93.     IDAHOT

International

94.     IEWO

International

95.     IKFF Växjökretsen

Sweden

96.     IM - SOIR

Sweden

97.     INCIEDYT

México

98.     Institute for Science and Human Values, Inc

United States

99.     Instituto de Educación para las Mujeres

México

100.  Instituto RUNA

Peru

101.  Integrated Women and Children's Development Activities (IWCDA)

Uganda

102.  InterLGBT

France

103.  International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)

International

104.  International Women's Rights Project

Canada

105.  Intitut Hak Asasi Perempuan

Indonesia

106.  Iraqi Al-Amal Association

Iraq

107.  Iraqi Women Network

Iraq

108.  Iraqi Al-Firdaws Society

Iraq

109.  JASS (Just Associates)

International

110.  JASS Southern Africa

South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi

111.  Jessica Reyes Sánchez

México

112.  Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) - New York City chapter

USA

113.  Justice and Peace Commission

Mexico

114.  Kalidasdih Mohan Mahato Foundation

India

115.  Knights For Peace, International

Philippines

116.  Labour Education Organisation

Pakistan

117.  Ligue du Droit International des Femmes

France

118.  Ligue Life ONG

Benin

119.  Linksbridge SPC

United States

120.  MADRE

United States

121.  Makerere University

Uganda

122.  Mauj Development Foundation

Pakistan

123.  Media Advocacy Group (MAG)

Nepal

124.  Medica Mondiale e.V.

Germany

125.  Metamorphosis

Serbia

126.  MGARO

Tanzania

127.  Middle East Studies Association (MESA)

United States

128.  Mothers for Active Non-Violence (MOFAN-V)

Ghana

129.  Movimiento Amplio de Mujeres

Puerto Rico

130.  Movimiento Amplio de MujeresP

Puerto Rico

131.  Mujer y Salud en Uruguay - MYSU

Uruguay

132.  Mujer y Sociedad

Peru

133.  Mujeres por la Vida Contra la VD

Uruguay

134.  Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV)

USA

135.  Najaat Welfare Foundation

Pakistan

136.  National Council of Social Welfare

India

137.  Noble Aims Welfare Association

Pakistan

138.  O-livestream

USA

139.  Oficina Jurídica Para la Mujer

Bolivia

140.  ORGENS

Senegal

141.  Parliament of the World's Religions

USA/International

142.  Peace Foundation Pakistan

Pakistan

143.  Pen International

International

144.  PEN International, UK Chapter

UK

145.  Planeta Mujer

Mexico

146.  Plataforma Española de Jovenes contra la violencia de genero

Spain

147.  Prabha Khosla Consulting

Canada

148.  Pro Mujeres

Puerto Rico

149.  PRO-LINK

Ghana

150.  Progressive Center for Equality, Symbiosis & Solidarity (PROCESS)

India

151.  Quality of Citizenship Jamaica

Jamaica

152.  Reach India

India

153.  Red de Empoderamiento de Mujeres de Cartagena

Colombia

154.  Red Mesa de Mujeres de Cd Juárez A.C.

México

155.  REFH

France

156.  Refugees Solidarity Movement

Egypt

157.  RIFA Rights For All

Rwanda

158.  Runu

India

159.  RUPSA

Bangladesh

160.  Rural Women's Development and Unity Centre

Nepal

161.  Rwanda Association of University Women

Rwanda

162.  Saathi

Nepal

163.  SAFECO - Synergy of Congolese Women's Associations

DR Congo

164.  Samanata-Institute for Social and Gender Equality

Nepal

165.  Samsara

Indonesia

166.  Save The Children Egypt

Syria

167.  Sawt al Niswa

Lebanon

168.  Seres

Portugal

169.  Sexuality Policy Watch

Brazil & US

170.  Sharedream

Ireland

171.  Shreela Debi

India

172.  Sisters in Islam

Malaysia

173.  Social Transformative Action Network for Development (STAND)

Sri Lanka

174.  Socialist Feminist Collective

Turkey

175.  Solveig Senft

Germany

176.  Somali Youth Voluntary Group Association (SOYVGA)

Somalia

177.  SOS Sexisme

France

178.  Sree Saraswathi Thyagaraja College

India

179.  Steps Towards Development

Bangladesh

180.  STEWARDWOMEN

South Sudan

181.  SWL

Syria

182.  Takal Welfare Organization

Pakistan

183.  Tanagra M. Melgarejo

Puerto Rico

184.  TESO WOMEN PEACE ACTIVISTS (TEWPA)

Uganda

185.  Association of British Muslims

United Kingdom

186.  Coalition for Action 1325

Uganda

187.  MATCH International Women's Fund

Canada

188.  Trailblazerz Mentoring Foundation

Uganda

189.  Trinamul Nari Uddyakta Society (Grassroots)

Bangladesh

190.  Uganda Public Rescue Foundation

Uganda

191.  Under the Rainbow

South Africa

192.  Union de l'Action Féministe

Morocco

193.  Urgent Action Fund (UAF)

Africa

194.  Ved International Society

India

195.  VIDA LESBI

Peru

196.  Warvin Foundation for Women's Issues (WFWI)

Iraq

197.  West Africa Social Entrepreneurs Network

Ghana

198.  WHER

Nigeria

199.  Wi'am, Palestinian Conflict, Transformation Center

Palestine

200.  WILPF French section

France

201.  ًWogood for Human Security Foundation

Yemen

202.  Women & Children's Empowerment Network in Africa

Uganda

203.  Women Business Center

South Africa

204.  Women Development Initiatives (WODI)

Nigeria

205.  Women for Women's Human Rights (WWHR) - NEW WAYS

Turkey

206.  Women in Action against Gender Based Violence (WACameroon)

Cameroon

207.  Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML)

International

208.  Women of Halton Action Movement

Canada

209.  Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR)

Philippines

210.  Women's International League for Peace and Freedom  (WILPF)

Switzerland

211.  Women’s Information Center

Georgia

212.  WomenCentre

UK

213.  World Learn, School for International Training

Uganda

214.  World March of Women

France

215.  WUNRN

Global

216.  YFW

Belize

217.  Young Knights

Zimbabwe

218.  Young Professional Development Society Nepal (YPDSN)

Nepal

219.  Young Women for Change

Mongolia

220.  Youth Afrique Leadership Forum

Nigeria

221.  Zawadisha

USA