Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy - Press Releases

ECCD Letter to Italian Ambassador in Ottawa: Justice demanded in the case of Italian student Giulio Regeni

Sun, 10 Jan 2016 05:48:31 +0000

ECCD Letter to Italian Ambassador in Ottawa: Justice demanded in the case of Italian student Giulio Regeni

April 10th, 2016

Andrea Meloni, Ambassador
[email protected]

RE: Justice demanded in the case of Italian student Giulio Regeni

Dear Ambassador Andrea Meloni:
We, as well as many Canadians of Egyptian origin, have been following with horror and outrage the news about the murder of Giulio Regeni and the ensuing investigation by Egyptian authorities.

No words can adequately express our heartfelt empathy and deep sorrow for Giulio's demise. At the least, may we respectfully ask that you convey our sincere condolences to Paola, his mother, his family and loved ones and the people of Italy.

In addition to our deep sadness, we are troubled by the way the investigation into Giulio's kidnapping, torture and killing has evolved. Unfortunately, this is not a unique case as Egyptian authorities claim. Hundreds of Egyptian youth have been disappeared since the 2013 coup d'état by General Abdel Fattah Al Sissi.

We unreservedly support the demand for a comprehensive and transparent international investigation and a request that those responsible, no matter what their rank, bear the full extent of the international law for their heinous acts against Giulio.

We are aware of Italy's economic investments in Egypt, nonetheless we are certain that your government will not dilute its quest for justice for the sake of such interests. Italy will be doing the right thing, not only to Giulio's memory but also to all those Egyptians who have known the same deplorable treatment and tragic fate.
We and a large number of Egyptian people are watching Giulio's case with great anticipation. We are certain that your government will prove to be a guiding light for the sanctity of life and respect of the law. Meanwhile, I assure you that Giulio's name will remain in our thoughts and our hearts till justice is done and far beyond.

Sincerely yours,

Samaa Elibyari
Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy
Political Committee
E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: (514) 805-3220
www.eccd.ca

Cc: Ehab Lotayef
Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy
Chairman

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Press Release: ECCD denounces Egypt’s faulty parliamentary elections, calls for boycott

Thu, 15 Oct 2015 12:52:00 +0000

Press Release: ECCD denounces Egypt's faulty parliamentary elections, calls for boycott

- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

(Ottawa, October 16, 2015) The Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy (ECCD) calls on all Egyptians to boycott the faulty parliamentary elections called by the military ruler Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

For Egyptian Canadians there cannot be a more sharp contrast than this tale of two elections. For the last several weeks, Egyptian Canadians have been witnessing and participating in an open and democratic electoral process in Canada. The positions of Canada's political parties run the gamut of the full political spectrum. Canadian citizens are free to organize, campaign, express their opinions, and vote their conscience without threat to life or liberty.

In contrast, thousands have been murdered by the military regime in Egypt, and tens of thousands have been imprisoned under conditions of torture and without recourse to a credible legal process. The main opposition leaders have been imprisoned, some have been sentenced to death in trials widely condemned as sham and farcical and all political opposition has been curtailed.

These so-called elections are fatally flawed in every way possible:

The "elections" are being called by a military regime that came to power by overthrowing the first freely elected government in Egypt's history
In carrying out their violent coup the military regime abrogated the will of the people expressed in five free and fair democratic polls
The "elections" are being held with the main opposition outlawed, its leaders sentenced to death, its followers arrested and tortured, and numerous citizens executed by death squads on suspicion of belonging to the opposition
The "elections" are being held while the country is under martial law
The "elections" are being held after the military dictator expressed disdain for the laws that exist; Sisi has stated that "in good faith" the constitution gave too much power to Parliament, indicating that the powers of any "elected" parliament will be curtailed

"Governments and NGOs that participate in this fraudulent process, in any manner including monitoring the elections, discredit their commitment to democracy and human rights," said ECCD chairperson, Ehab Lotayef. "They would be providing political cover for the criminal regime in power today in Egypt." he continued.

ECCD calls upon all governments and NGOs to distance themselves from this "election" in respect for the sanctity of the blood that has been shed over the last four years, and still is, and to honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women standing up to Sisi's oppression.

ECCD stands with the courageous free Egyptians who continue to struggle to regain their revolution and achieve its goals. For them and for our beloved Egypt we call on all to boycott Sisi's charade of an election.

About ECCD: Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy (ECCD) is a politically independent, non-affiliated pan Canadian organization with chapters in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary, Vancouver, and Kingston, which advocates for democracy and human rights in Egypt.

For more information:
www.eccd.ca
[email protected]
Mohmaed S. Kamel: (514) 863-9202

Ottawa: [email protected] Sherif Elkholy: (613) 295-3994
Toronto: [email protected] Deena Abul Fottouh: (289) 259-7902
Montreal: [email protected] Mohmaed S. Kamel: (514) 863-9202
Vancouver: [email protected] Tarek Ramadan: (604) 721-4555
Calgary: [email protected] Mostafa Elhoushi: (403) 702-4156
Regina: [email protected] Mahmoud Alhalafawy: (306) 591-0862
Kingston: [email protected] Mohamed Salah: (343) 333-0752

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Open Letter from ECCD to Mexican Ambassador to Canada

Tue, 15 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Open Letter from ECCD to Mexican Ambassador to Canada

September 15th 2015

Mr Ambassador Francisco Suárez Dávila,
First Secretary Mr. Fernando Gonzalez Saiffe:

I am writing on behalf of members of Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy (ECCD) to express our deepest sorrow and most sincere condolences to the families of the Mexican tourists killed by the Egyptian Security forces while visiting recently the Bahariya oasis in Egypt.

I also wish to express in the name of our members our best wishes for a speedy recovery to those injured in this reckless attack.

At ECCD, we join our voices to the those of the Mexican authorities demanding a thorough, swift and independent investigation. This tragic incident involving the Mexican tourists and their guides brings to light to the whole world, what we as an organization having been decrying, namely the extent of brutality and lack of accountability of the Egyptian security forces.

The present Egyptian government of Abdel Fateh El-Sissi, who seized power in a military coup by removing the first elected Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi July 3 2013, has proven his incapacity to rule judiciously the country or to provide adequate security for Egyptians and tourists alike.

Please convey our heartfelt thoughts to the family of the Mexican victims.

With our respectful regards,

Ehab Lotayef
Chairman, Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (514) 941-9792
www.eccd.ca

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Press Release: Egyptian Canadians Condemn Today's Verdict Against Mohamed Fahmy and Other Al Jazeera Journalists

Sat, 29 Aug 2015 12:52:00 +0000

Press Release: Egyptian Canadians Condemn Today's Verdict Against Mohamed Fahmy and Other Al Jazeera Journalists

- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

(Ottawa, August 29, 2015) The Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy (ECCD) condemns today's verdict that sentenced Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy along with two other Al-Jazeera journalists to 3 years in prison. A court in Cairo convicted Mohamed Fahmy, Baher Mohamed, and Peter Greste for allegedly spreading false news, aiding a terrorist organization, and working without a license.

"The verdict confirms that the Harper government's unconditional support of coup regime provides a green light for the Egyptian regime to continue its oppression even against Canadian citizens," said Ehab Lotayef, ECCD's Board Chair. "Today's conviction is part of the ongoing human rights violations which range from lack of due process to targeted assassinations," added Mr. Lotayef.

Considering the reputation of Egyptian prisons, the Canadian government ought to be extremely concerned about the well being of Mr. Fahmy, a Canadian citizen. According to Human Rights Watch report, the Egyptian authorities have jailed more than 41,000 people since the 2013 July 3rd military coup. At least seventy of those detainees have since died in custody due to torture and medical negligence, according to a report by the Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK.

In view of today's latest travesty of justice by the Egyptian judicial system, ECCD calls upon Mr. Harper and the Canadian government to abide by Canadian values and take a principled position. ECCD calls upon the Canadian government to publicly, and in no uncertain terms, condemn and contest the verdict and utilize all possible means to free Mohamed Fahmy and facilitate his return to Canada.

For more information:
www.eccd.ca
[email protected]
Ehab Lotayef: (514) 941-9792

Ottawa: [email protected] Sherif Elkholy: (613) 295-3994
Toronto: [email protected] Deena Abul Fottouh: (289) 259-7902
Montreal: [email protected] Ahmed Abdelkader: (514) 928-8887
Vancouver: [email protected] Tarek Ramadan: (604) 721-4555
Calgary: [email protected] Mostafa Elhoushi: (403) 702-4156
Regina: [email protected] Mahmoud Alhalafawy: (306) 591-0862
Kingston: [email protected] Mohamed Salah: (343) 333-0752

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Press Release: Egyptian Canadians Condemn Recent Violence in Egypt

Thu, 02 Jul 2015 10:17:00 +0000

Egyptian Canadians Condemn Recent Violence in Egypt

- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

(Ottawa, July 2, 2015) The Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy (ECCD) condemns in the strongest terms the unprovoked assassination of thirteen Egyptian political activists, including former parliamentarian Nasr Alhafie, at the hands of Egyptian Security Forces. ECCD equally condemns the regime's heedless strategy in dealing with our people in the Sinai peninsula.

While we unequivocally condemn violence, it must be emphasized that the regime's indiscriminate excessive use of force and its marginalization of our people in Sinai is what lead to the creation of a culture of violence that claimed the lives of 117 Egyptians on July 1st 2015 alone. Similarly, we hold the coup regime responsible for the cultivating the seeds of violence that claimed the life of Egypt's public prosecutor. Although the perpetrators are yet to be identified, the killing of the public prosecutor is used as a reason to legislate further violations of the rule of law by hastily issuing a set of new unconstitutional amendments intended to expedite the execution of President Morsi and hundreds of other political dissidents.

The regime of General Abdel Fattah El-Sissi who came to power after a military coup on July 3rd 2013, has this time truly crossed all lines and boundaries. This is no longer a charade of legal proceedings leading to politically motivated death sentences. El-Sisi has turned Egypt into a full fledged republic of fear where political opponents are assassinated in their homes while the world watches.
We strongly question the Canadian government's position and its continued support to El-Sisi's regime which continues to embarrass our government by refusing to allow Mohamed Fahmy, the Canadian Journalist, to return to Canada. Furthermore, we as Egyptian Canadians are appalled by the ongoing RCMP initiative to train the Egyptian security forces, the same forces that executed 13 political activists in their homes without any trial or due process.

Although our previous calls seem to have fallen on deaf ears, as Canadian Citizens we once again call upon Mr. Harper and Mr. Nicholson to denounce their support of General El-Sissi and his police thugs, and issue a statement to condemn the recent atrocities. If not for upholding our Canadian values of democracy, we ask them to do so in the name of Canada's long term foreign interest, which can never be served by supporting a blood thirsty tyrant who assassinates his own people to silence dissent.

We call on the Egyptian people to hold on to their dream of the January 25th revolution. The recent assassinations are but signs of a crumbling regime that lost touch with reality and still thinks that the Egyptian people can be subjugated to a tyrannical rule. The giant has been awakened, the revolution continues, and free democratic Egypt will be a reality.

For more information:
www.eccd.ca
[email protected]
Mohamed Sherif Kamel: (514) 863-9202
Ehab El-Komy: (613) 852-1694

Ottawa: [email protected], Sherif Elkholy: (613) 295-3994
Toronto: [email protected], Deena Abul Fottouh: (289) 259-7902
Montreal: [email protected], Ahmed Abdelkader: (514) 928-8887
Vancouver: [email protected], Tarek Ramadan: (604) 721-4555
Calgary: [email protected], Mohamed Hassanin: (403) 470-3687
Kingston: [email protected], Mohamed Salah: (343) 333-0752

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Press Release: ECCD rejects the ratification of the death sentence for Dr. Mohamed Morsi and five leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood

Wed, 17 Jun 2015 10:32:54 +0000

ECCD rejects the ratification of the death sentence for Dr. Mohamed Morsi and five leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood

- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

(Ottawa, June 17, 2015) The Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy (ECCD) rejects and strongly condemns the decision of an Egyptian court on June 16th 2015, to uphold the death sentence imposed on President Mohamed Morsi and dozens of his supporters.

The death sentences Of May 16th 2015 handed down to President Morsi and more than one hundred other defendants, were slammed by human rights organizations as the latest blatant violation of the international principles of due process and the rule of law by the regime of General Abdel Fattah El-Sissi who came to power after a military coup July 3rd 2013.

While political leaders around the globe strongly condemned the mass death sentences, the Canadian government has so far chosen to remain silent and continued to lend moral and financial support to the Egyptian regime.

We call upon Mr. Harper and Mr. Nicholson to uphold our Canadian values of democracy and denounce the attempt of General El-Sissi and his accomplices to extinguish the flame of January 25th peaceful revolution by killing the first President Egyptians had chosen in the only democratic election in Egypt's recent history.

We stand with the people of Egypt in their struggle to free themselves and their land from the tyrannical rule of the blood thirsty General El-Sissi and his military and police apparatus. Irrespective of any reservations on his performance during his term in office, we salute President Morsi and his co-accused for their courageous principled positions and commitment to January 25th ideals: bread, freedom, and social justice. The revolution continues....

For more information:
www.eccd.ca
[email protected]
Mohamed Sherif Kamel: (514) 863-9202
Ehab El-Komy: (613) 852-1694

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ECCD Press Release: Egyptian Canadians Condemn Death Sentence for Egypt’s First Democratically Elected President and Dozens of Others

Sat, 16 May 2015 20:32:54 +0000

Egyptian Canadians Condemn Death Sentence for Egypt's First Democratically Elected President and Dozens of Others

- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

(Ottawa, May 16, 2015) The Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy condemned in the strongest terms today's Egyptian court decision to sentence to death Egypt's first democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi along with 105 others including the former speaker of the country's first freely elected Parliament. The charges against Morsi and others relate to the breakdown of some of Egypt's political prisons in the turmoil created at the beginning of the 2011 revolution.

"These verdicts are just the latest in attempts to crush opposition to the military junta in Egypt. No country can thrive with such rampant injustice. We are calling on people and governments around the world to stand for justice in Egypt and demand the immediate release of Mr. Morsi and others wrongfully convicted and imprisoned in Egypt." said ECCD spokesperson, Deena Abul Fottouh.
In another verdict involving dubious allegations of espionage, 16 other opponents of the current military junta were sentenced to death including Dr. Emad Shahin, a professor of political science and Sondos Asem. Ms. Asem is a 27 year old student of governance at Oxford University.

These mass death sentences come on the heels of two other significant developments in the obliteration of opposition: (a) an Egyptian court issued ban of the activities of all soccer fan clubs (known as the Ultras) who are known for their political opposition to the country's ousted former dictator, Mubarak and (b) the death of student, Anas Kamal after a one-month coma. Anas was beaten at Cairo University by security guards taking aim at any expression of opposition to the military junta.

"These open and blatant disregards for human and democratic rights cannot lead to long-term stability in Egypt or the region. The current coup regime in Egypt has proven it is incapable of bringing either stability or democracy to the country. Western governments must acknowledge this reality and act." added Ms. Abul Fottouh.

About ECCD: Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy (ECCD) is a politically independent, non-affiliated pan Canadian organization with chapters in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Quebec City, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Vancouver, and Kingston, which advocates for democracy and human rights in Egypt.

For more information:
www.eccd.ca
[email protected]
Deena Abul Fottouh: +1 (289) 259-7902

Ottawa: [email protected], Sherif Elkholy: (613) 295-3994
Toronto: [email protected], Mohamed Bakr: (289) 981-2686
Montreal: [email protected], Ahmed Abdelkader: (514) 928-8887
Vancouver: [email protected], Tarek Ramadan: (604) 721-4555
Calgary: [email protected], Mohamed Hassanin: (403) 470-3687
Kingston: [email protected], Mohamed Salah: (343) 333-0752

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ECCD Press Release: Egyptian Canadians call on government, civil society to prevent pending executions of 7 Egyptians convicted of crimes they could not have committed

Sat, 04 Apr 2015 06:02:38 +0000

Egyptian Canadians call on government, civil society to prevent pending executions of 7 Egyptians convicted of crimes they could not have committed

- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
(Ottawa, April 4, 2015) The Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy (ECCD) calls upon the Canadian government, international community and civil society to intervene to prevent the execution of Egyptian civilians. Seven civilians were convicted in Egypt for a crime committed months after they had been detained by the military regime. The death sentences were recently confirmed by an Egyptian military court and execution may occur at any time.

Civilians sentenced included a minor and related to crime occurring after their detention

On March 24th 2015, the Military Court rejected the appeal and confirmed the death sentence for seven Egyptian civilians. The death sentences were first issued on October 21st 2014 for participation in attacks on a police van and army checkpoint that occurred on March 19, 2014. The individuals convicted sentenced to death were all in custody at the time of the attacks. They are:

Abdul Rahman Sayed Rizk (a minor, in custody since March 16, 2014)
Mohammed Bakri Harun, (in custody since November 28, 2013).
Hany Mustafa Amin Amer (in custody since December 16, 2013).
Muhammad Ali Afifi (in custody since November 19, 2013).
Khalid Faraj Mohammed Mohammed Ali (in custody since March 16, 2014).
Islam Syed Ahmed (in custody since March 16, 2014).
Ashraf Ali Ali Hassanein

They may be executed at any time.

ECCD Statement on Mohamed Fahmy's Release

Thu, 12 Feb 2015 09:25:00 +0000

ECCD Statement on Mohamed Fahmy's Release

February 12 2015
Ottawa

The Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy (ECCD) would like to congratulate Mr. Mohamed Fahmy, the Canadian/Egyptian journalist held in Egypt on his release on bail from prison. We hope that Mr. Fahmy and his family will have a fast recovery from the ordeal they have been through, and that his case will be fully resolved soon. We take this opportunity to remind the whole world of the tens of thousands of Egyptians who are still behind bars in unbearable conditions as a punishment for exercising their right to freedom of speech. The Egyptian government still continues its assault on freedom of expression through detaining scores of journalists and suppressing their freedom of expression.

While we thank the Canadian government for its efforts to release Mr. Fahmy, we strongly believe that these efforts were too little too late. A simple comparison between the Canadian government's reaction to the arrest of two CBC journalists in Turkey for one day, a year ago and their reaction to Mohamed Fahmy's ordeal and other similar cases in Egypt reveals a clear double standard.

We call on all Canadians to pressure the Canadian government to stop their silence over the well-documented human rights violations committed by the Egyptian government.

Background: In June 2014, Mr. Fahmy, an Egyptian Canadian Journalist, and two Al-Jazeera colleagues, Peter Greste and Baher Mohamed, were convicted on charges of falsifying news and assisting the banned Muslim Brotherhood. This followed the arrest and detention of Mohamed Fahmy months earlier, in December 2013. Mr. Fahmy received a seven year prison sentence. ECCD and Several Human rights organizations condemned the detainment and the convictions as an unacceptable attack on media freedom in Egypt.

Canada's condemnation of Mr. Fahmy's sentence back in June 2014 paled in comparison to the strong statement of condemnation from the Australian foreign minister Julia Bishop, and other world leaders. Mr. Baird's disregard ECCD's repeated requests for a meeting to discuss this case and others, and issued no response to Amnesty International open letters sent to him in April and June of 2014.

In January 2015 the court of appeal ordered a retrial of Mohamed Fahmy and his two colleagues. One of them, Peter Greste, an Australian national, was deported since but Mohamed Fahmy, who gave up his Egyptian Nationality in the hope of being deported to Canada was kept in prison. Mohamed Fahmy and his other colleague, Baher Mohamed, who only carries the Egyptian Nationality, were released on bail on February 12, 2015, pending the retrial.

About ECCD: Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy (ECCD) is a politically independent, non-affiliated pan Canadian organization with chapters in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Quebec City, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Vancouver, and Kingston, which advocates for democracy and human rights in Egypt.

For more information:
www.eccd.ca
[email protected]
Ehab Lotayef: [email protected], +1 (514) 941-9792
Ehab El-Komy: [email protected], +1 (613) 852-1694

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