Veteran socialist activist Kamal Khalil was arrested this morning from his home, according to a Facebook post from his wife, who shared a picture of their home after security forces had searched it. Kamal is one of many Egyptian activists detained in recent weeks as part of an on-going crackdown which aims to silence critical…
An appeal court in Egypt has reduced lengthy jail sentences imposed on striking workers from Torah Cement. The court ruled on 18 June to cut the workers’ sentences from 3 years to two months. The Torah Cement workers are the latest group of worker activists in Egypt to face harsh repression for demanding their rights,…
Hundreds of protesters converged on the Journalists’ Union building in downtown Cairo on 13 June, as Egypt’s parliament prepared to discuss a the controversial decision by the military regime to sell the Tiran and Sanafir islands to Saudi Arabia. Security forces stormed the building and seized at least six protesters, according to reports from Egyptian…
The issue of forced disappearances and other human rights violations was high on the agenda at the annual congress of lecturers’ union UCU, held in Brighton on 27-29 May. The union pledged to continue support for the Truth for Giulio / Justice for Egypt’s Disappeared campaign in a resolution, while delegates heard a report back…
Well-known activist and campaigning lawyer Khaled Ali was held by police for questioning on 23 May, in the latest of a series of arrests to hit opposition groups in Egypt. Ali was reported by local media to have been detained at Dokki police station for questioning without formal charges being brought. Ali is a well-known…
UPDATE 18 June – appeal court reduces Torah Cement workers’ sentences from 3 years to 2 months in jail Security guards who took part in a sit-in to demand a contract after years of service with Torah Cement company were sentenced to three years in jail after a rushed, unfair trial in May this year.…
Vaguely worded ‘counterterrorism’ laws are once again being used by the Egyptian authorities to clamp down criticism and silence campaigners and activists. Alexandria-based lawyer Mohamed Ramadan, who is well-known in the city for his work in defending trade unionists and political activists, was sentenced to ten years in jail this April for allegedly ‘insulting’ Egyptian…
Originally posted on MENA Solidarity Network:
Middle East Solidarity magazine Issue 5 available from March 2017 Print copies £3 each or £20 for 10 (plus postage). Order direct from Bookmarks Bookshop A pdf version is available to download here Middle East Solidarity Magazine Issue 5 – Web Version On the cover: Building the resistance to Trump:…
Following successful meetings in London, Cambridge, Manchester and Warwick, new events have been added to the list of dates for the speaking tour organised by UCU and Egypt Solidarity Initiative in collaboration with Amnesty’s Truth for Giulio campaign. Kingston event – Truth for Giulio, Justice for Egypt’s Disappeared 29 March, 6pm, Kingston Students Union, Penrhyn…
A year after the disappearance, torture and murder of Cambridge PhD student Giulio Regeni, who vanished while doing research on independent trade unions in Cairo, Amnesty International and the lecturers union UCU have announced a joint national campaign to push for justice for Giulio and other victims of enforced disappearance in Egypt. Key campaign events…
Thousands of trade unionists and activists have backed a campaign by the global federation of food, farm and hotel workers’ unions, IUF, in solidarity with independent trade unionists at the IFFCO edible oils factory in Suez who were arrested earlier this month. The IUF has sent over 4500 protest emails to IFFCO director, Shiraz Allana…
A dozen leading UK trade unionists released a statement today condemning the latest attacks on workers’ rights in Egypt. Members of the national executive committees of the university workers’ union UCU, civil servants’ union PCS and the National Union of Teachers were joined by Bakers and Food workers’ union president Ian Hodson in a protest…
