Ibrahim fears end of democracy talk; Bakrey files lawsuit against him
Egypt, Politics, 12/1/2003

The director of" Ibn Khaldoun center for developmental studies" Saad Eddin Ibrahim, attributed the escalated campaign against him to his calls to link American economic aid to Egypt and countries of the region to implemention of democratic reforms.

He announced that the center decided to not accept any American aid if this aid is deducted from the American aid given to Egypt, at a time when the chief editor of the Egyptian's weekly al Osbo said that Ibrahim is like the chairman of the "Iraqi National Congress" Ahmed Chalabi.

In a statement yesterday, Ibrahim said "the attack started since three weeks ago, and has increased every week since. The aim is to silence any contradicting voice, and to close the file of talking about democracy, by linking such talks to the Americans."

Ibrahim had strongly criticized by the Egyptian press after he had demanded the US, in an article published in the Washington Post on November 23 to link aid, trade and investment to tangible steps taken towards comprehensive democracy by Middle Eastern governments, including Israel.

Chief editor of the Egyptian's weekly, Bakrey, on the other hand said that he had filed a case to the attorney general against Ibrahim "demanding punishing him over provoking the US to work to changing the regime in Egypt by means of force." He added "I moved from the point that the government is keeping silence on Ibrahim's violations, and is not trying him as if he is above the law, ignoring that America wants foundations for itself in the Arab world.. wants another Ahmed Chalabi in Egypt."

Ibrahim said "what was stated in the case filed by Bakrey to the attorney general "is non sense É This case was a legal trick from Bakery to retaliate a case a filed against him to the attorney general on Sunday on defamation, published in al-Osbo against the Ibn Khladoun Center, as the center was described as an American - Zionist entity and a headquarters for the Israeli intelligence ( Mossad) and the CIA."

Ibrahim said that Bakrey indicated in the paper that had it not been for political pressure, Ibrahim would not be have been released from prison. He continued "this is a defamation to the Egyptian court of cassation which issued a sentence that found me not guilty." In may 2001 Ibrahim was convicted of getting money from foreign sources without the consent of the government, before he was released in march 2002.

In a press conference on Saturday, Ibrahim said he called for linking aid to political reform. He confirmed "This is what I had stated and I do not apologize for it."

Previous Stories:
  Resignations from Egypt's 'Ibn Khaldoun center' due to US finance controversy   (11/28/2003)
  Saad Eddine Ibrahim calls on the Americans to pressure Egypt   (8/20/2003)
  Sorour slams EU accusations on human rights in Egypt   (4/19/2003)
  Egypt finds Saad Ibrahim as not guilty   (3/19/2003)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search