EGYPT’S VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

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Issued: 16 March 2015

The Media Review Network (MRN) welcomes the decision by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (The Commission) to investigate violations of Articles 4,12 and 20 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights by Egypt.

On the 11 August 2014, The Palestine Solidarity Alliance (PSA) and the International Coalition for Freedoms and Rights (ICFR) together with 4 other Solidarity groups lodged a complaint with the Commission against the Arab Republic of Egypt, a state signatory to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

The complaint reads: “The Complainants submit that whether in coordination with Israel or of its own accord, Egypt has maintained and continues to maintain essentially a total closure of the Rafah border crossing thereby creating, contributing to or intentionally compounding an enormous humanitarian crisis confronting a defenceless and vulnerable refugee population of almost two million people, half or more of whom are children in Gaza”.

At an extra-ordinary sitting of the Commission, held in late February 2015 in the capital of The Gambia, Banjul, the Commission decreed that the Complainants be granted permission to present evidence to the Commission related to the complaint. This has to be done within two (2) months of the date of notification.

The MRN fully supports this initiative by the complainants and South African civil society looks forward to the appropriate decisions that would pave the way for the urgent opening of the Rafah border thereby alleviating the human crisis that is unfolding in Gaza.

Ibrahim Vawda

Senior Researcher

Media Review Network

For further information please contact:

Attorney Nadeem Mohamed

Tel: +27(0)11 781 8670

Or

GAYE SOWE: Senior Legal Advisor

Banjul, The Gambia

MRN

The aspiration of the Media Review Network is to dispel the myths and stereotypes about Islam and Muslims and to foster bridges of understanding among the diverse people of our country. The Media Review Network believes that Muslim perspectives on issues impacting on South Africans are a prerequisite to a better appreciation of Islam.