Egypt: Opposition MPs Demand Nour’s Release
As reported by AKI, an appeal was sent to President Hosni Mubarak containing over one-hundred Members of Parliament signatures. The appeal requests that Mubarak order the release of imprisoned former Ghad party leader, Ayman Nour.
Nour ran for president in last September’s elections where, according to official governmental figures, he came in second to Mubarak with seven percent of the votes. He was then sentenced to five years in prison in December for forging signatures when registering the Ghada party for the September elections.
Despite the international community’s negative criticism of Nour’s conviction—many believe he is innocent and was jailed solely because he is a threat to Mubarak’s rule—no major international measures have been taken to free Nour. The appeal of Egypt’s opposition MPs is the first of many crucial steps needed to release the politician.
According to this piece,
“Over 100 Egyptian MPs have signed an appeal asking president Hosni Mubarak to order the release of Ayman Nour, former leader of the Ghad party [Tomorrow]. Among the signatories are 67 members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic radical movement which is officially banned but tolerated, and has 88 MPs in parliament. Members of other opposition groups and independent MPs also signed the appeal with which they asked the government 'to grant pardon' to Nour.
"Egyptian newspapers' sources revealed that originally nine members of president's Mubarak National Democratic Party (NDP) were also among the subscribers, but on second thoughts they withdrew their support without giving any explanation.
"'They were certainly pushed to renounce by their party,' said one of the appeal's authors, independent MP Talat Sadat. He also added that 'we will carry on with our request, because Nour's release can be obtained only through Mubarak's intervention.'"
To read this article in full, click here
Nour ran for president in last September’s elections where, according to official governmental figures, he came in second to Mubarak with seven percent of the votes. He was then sentenced to five years in prison in December for forging signatures when registering the Ghada party for the September elections.
Despite the international community’s negative criticism of Nour’s conviction—many believe he is innocent and was jailed solely because he is a threat to Mubarak’s rule—no major international measures have been taken to free Nour. The appeal of Egypt’s opposition MPs is the first of many crucial steps needed to release the politician.
According to this piece,
“Over 100 Egyptian MPs have signed an appeal asking president Hosni Mubarak to order the release of Ayman Nour, former leader of the Ghad party [Tomorrow]. Among the signatories are 67 members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic radical movement which is officially banned but tolerated, and has 88 MPs in parliament. Members of other opposition groups and independent MPs also signed the appeal with which they asked the government 'to grant pardon' to Nour.
"Egyptian newspapers' sources revealed that originally nine members of president's Mubarak National Democratic Party (NDP) were also among the subscribers, but on second thoughts they withdrew their support without giving any explanation.
"'They were certainly pushed to renounce by their party,' said one of the appeal's authors, independent MP Talat Sadat. He also added that 'we will carry on with our request, because Nour's release can be obtained only through Mubarak's intervention.'"
To read this article in full, click here
posted by Anonymous @ 6/12/2006 02:46:00 PM
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