Tuesday, February 3, 2015

ُERC statement on Egyptian Foreign Ministry's statement denying people the right to speak out against the military regime of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

The Egyptian Revolutionary Council's Statement on the:

Egyptian Foreign Ministry's statement denying people the right to speak out against the military regime of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

February 2nd, 2015


The military regime of Abdel Fattah el - Sisi is trying to silence dissent even outside of Egypt. It wants to ensure that no Egyptian voice demands freedoms and rights for the Egyptian people. The regime has over 40,000 political dissidents in prison, among them women and children, elected Members of Parliament, academics and journalists.  The General' security forces have also killed thousands of unarmed protestors. 

On Saturday the Coup leader in his speech recklessly called on supporters and thugs (the same group who in January 25th attacked Tahrir on Camel back) to come to the streets to confront pro-democracy protests. He is seeking both a populist mandate to continue his repressive measures, and to foster civil clashes in a society where the state controlled media has been busy creating societal divisions and sectarian divides. Sisi’s media has pursued a campaign of hate speech and  hate propaganda incitement against opponents of the military regime, in particular the Muslim Brotherhood, that seeks to dehumanise the pro-democracy campaigners a way that recalls the language of the fascist regimes in the 1930’s. Every time Sisi called for a public ‘mandate’ he has followed through with a massacre of Egyptian opponents. The military regime, and General Sisi in particular, must be given a clear message by the international community that it will not tolerate mass murder in order for his regime to suppress dissent.

The statement of the Egyptian foreign ministry, proves that the current regime cannot even tolerate those outside Egypt putting their case to policy makers, academics and civil society. However the regime needs to understand that we will not be silenced inside or outside Egypt.

There is a growing awareness even among Sisi's allies that he is an increasing liability to stability and security. 

 Egyptians inside and outside Egypt are engaged in a long-term struggle against dictatorship. The ERC will ensure that the world knows of the crimes of this regime and it will continue to call on governments and civil society to stand for the rights of the Egyptian people.  

The ERC calls on all governments, the UN, and all Human rights organizations to be watchful of developments in Egypt and to send a clear warning to the Sisi regime calling for:

1. The immediate cessation of all incitement and hate language by the coup leader himself as well as by his officials and media inciting civil strife.

2. An end to the suppression of the rights of the Egyptian people for freedom of assembly and for freedom of speech

3. That no violence is used against peaceful protestors 

4. The unconditional release of all political prisoners. 

Dr Maha Azzam, Head of the ERC said ' We will continue to expose the actions of the military regime in Egypt which are contrary to international law and standards. We will not be silenced. We have the right to tell the world of the crimes against our people and policy makers have the right to listen without intimidation or pressure by the Egyptian regime'. End of Statement.

*The Egyptian Revolutionary Council (ERC) is a broad platform of different Egyptian political currents opposed to the military regime in Egypt. The ERC is committed to working for the establishment of a democratic and civil state that upholds the rule of law and respects human rights. 

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