UN Religious Freedom Investigator Requests Visit to Egypt
Government Should Grant Immediate Access
Interior Ministry Refuses to Recognize Citizens' Religious Affiliations
Today the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) accused the Interior Ministry of violating the rights of Egyptian citizens wanting to adopt Islam or Christianity. Despite the fact that a number of them have obtained final court rulings in their favor supporting their conversion, the Ministry continues to fail to recognize their new religious affiliations.
Detainee Goes on Hunger Strike after Two Years’ Imprisonment for Writing Unpublished Theological Research Paper
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) today called for the immediate and unconditional release of Metwalli Ibrahim Metwalli Saleh, 51, who started a hunger strike on 11 June 2005 in protest against his continued detention despite an order for his release issued by the Prosecutor-General’s office nearly two years ago.
Shi'a Muslim Detainee Mohamed El-Derini Released after Fifteen Months in Administrative Detention
Mohamed El-Derini was released in the early hours of today's morning after fifteen months he spent in administrative detention on the basis of his belonging to the shi'a Muslim beliefs.
UN Body Calls for Release of Shi'a Muslim Detainee
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued a decision in a case submitted last year by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) regarding the detention of Mohamed El-Derini on the basis of his Shi'a religious beliefs.
Prime Minister's Statements on the US Free Trade Agreement Should be the Basis for the Agreement's Negotiations
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) said today that the statements of Egypt's Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif during his visit to Washington on the free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States and its possible impact on the prices of medicines in Egypt should serve as the basis for the bilateral negotiations on the agreement, which are expected to start before the end of the year.
Government Must Resist Pressures from American Pharmaceuticals
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) today called on the Egyptian Government to resist pressures from American Pharmaceutical companies, which seek to maximize their profits at the expense of Egyptian citizens by eradicating competition from cheaper drugs.
New Study Urges Egyptian Government to Use TRIPS Flexibilities to Protect People's Right to Health
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) urged the Egyptian government today to give priority to the protection of citizens’ right to health during its implementation of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
New Court Ruling for Release of Shi'a Detainee
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights today renewed its call for the release of Mohamed Ramadan Hussein El-Dirini after a new court ruling was issued in his favor last week.
Further Violations of Freedom of Belief and Torture Allegations in Latest "Contempt of Religions" Case
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIRP) today asked the Prosecutor General to immediately release ten men and three women arrested on the basis of their religious beliefs in the latest of a series of "contempt of heavenly religions cases.
