EIPR Condemns Security Violence against Coptic Demonstrators... The Public Prosecutor Must Prosecute the Security Personnel Responsible for the Death of One Christian and the Injury of Dozens More in Omraniya
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) condemned today the use of excessive violence by security forces against Coptic demonstrators who were protesting the suspension of construction on a church in the Talibiya area of Giza this morning. The violence left at least one Christian demonstrator dead and dozens more injured, including some security personnel.
Update| The Public Prosecutor's Office Prevents Lawyers from Attending Interrogations of Copts Accused in Omraniya Events
On the evening of Wednesday 24 November 2010, at around 8:00 pm more than 30 lawyers went to the southern Giza office of the public prosecutor to attend the questioning of those accused in the Omraniya police complaint (no.17262/2010) concerning the arrest of a number of Copts on the morning of 24 November 2010 in the area of Omraniya during events related to the construction of a church in that area.
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights Releases a Report on the Law to Combat Trafficking in Persons
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) released today a report entitled "Law on Combating Trafficking in Persons: A Welcome Step that Requires Careful Implementation". The report welcomes Law no 64/2010 on Combating Trafficking in Persons as a positive step to address human trafficking crimes, and provides the state with recommendations for the implementation of the law's provisions.
Misdemeanor Judge Orders Release of Shi’ite Suspects on LE10,000 Bail Each
The Marg misdemeanor court yesterday ordered the release on bail of five Shi’ites charged with showing contempt for religion; bail was set at LE10,000 for each suspect. State Security Investigations (SSI) had arrested several Shi’ites of various nationalities more than 35 days ago, after which the Supreme State Security Prosecutor charged them with showing contempt for the Sunni confession and other charges related to their sectarian affiliation.
28 December: Ruling on Mandatory Premarital Testing
A decision on the lawsuit requesting the abolition of a state policy that requires couples wishing to marry to undergo a medical exam is due to be delivered on 28 December, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) said today. The case is being heard by the first circuit of the Court of Administrative Justice, headed by Judge Kamal Lamai.
EIPR Calls upon the Public Prosecutor to Immediately Release all Shi’ite Suspects... The Interior Ministry’s Custodianship Over Citizens’ Beliefs and Its Interrogation of Individual Conscience Must End
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) expressed its dismay at the Egyptian government’s ongoing policy of punishing and discriminating against individuals because of their religious beliefs. Several media reports have reported in the past few days that a group of Shi’ites, both Egyptians and non-nationals, had been arrested and questioned by the Supreme State Security Prosecutor because of their religious beliefs, information confirmed by the EIPR.
EIPR Launches Anti-Sectarianism Campaign in Egypt... An Appeal for Collective Action to Strengthen Citizenship and Shared Existence
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) launched a new advocacy campaign to combat sectarianism in Egypt under the slogan, "Reject Sectarianism". The organization said that the campaign is a joint movement and an appeal for collective action to eliminate sectarianism and strengthen the values of equal citizenship and shared existence in our common nation without religious or faith-based discrimination.
EIPR Holds a Roundtable to Discuss a Book on Health Reform
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) held on 5 October at its headquarters a roundtable discussion that brought together a gathering of pioneering experts, activists and professionals in the area of the right to health to discuss the book "Getting Health Reform Right: A Guide To Improving Performance And Equity". The book is co-authored by a group of prominent experts in health policy and was translated into Arabic by Dr. Ahmed Zaki with an introduction by Dr.
After U.N. Summit, Human Rights Council Reaffirms Commitment to Human Rights Approach to Tackling Maternal Deaths
10.01.10 - (PRESS RELEASE) Yesterday, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a second groundbreaking resolution reaffirming that pregnancy-related deaths and injuries are a human rights issue and calling on U.N. member states to redouble their efforts and integrate human rights in their policies and programs to eliminate preventable maternal mortality and morbidity.
Court of Urgent Affairs Declares it has no Jurisdiction in the Drug Pricing Case... Ministry Seeks to Draw Out Litigation, Clings to a Pricing System That Harms Citizens
The fourth circuit of the Cairo Court of Urgent Affairs ruled today that it had no jurisdiction to hear a motion against a ruling suspending work under a new drug pricing system. The motion (no. 2246/2010) for an injunction to suspend implementation of the ruling issued by the Court of Administrative Justice was filed by the Minister of Health earlier this month.