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Islamic Human Rights Commission

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26 March 2007

Press Release: IHRC Condemns Proposed Egyptian Constitutional Amendments

The Islamic Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned by the Egyptian government’s proposed amendments to the constitution which will not only make permanent the emergency provisions implemented by President Mubarak in 1981 but also introduce even more draconian legislation and police powers.

The new changes include a ban on the establishment of religious parties and allow for the adoption of a new election law that would allow the president to dissolve parliament unilaterally and dispense with the need for judicial supervision of every ballot box. Proposed laws enshrine sweeping police powers of surveillance and arrest and allow for civilians to be tried by military courts in terrorism cases.

Chairman of IHRC, Massoud Shadjareh stated:

“What we are essentially seeing here is a criminalisation and exclusion of religion which will predominantly affect Muslims in what has traditionally been one of the great centres of Islamic thought and jurisprudence.”

“Under the pretence of democratization and fighting terrorism, we are seeing the legitimization of dictatorship and the denial of self-determination to a very substantial section of Egyptian society.”

For more information, please contact IHRC on (+44) 20 8904 4222 or (+44) 7958 522 196 or email info@ihrc.org [ENDS]
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Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183
Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org.uk