We have been working for more than three years to establish a centre for political and human rights studies in Egypt. The inauguration conference under the title “Where is Egypt Heading?” took place in Cairo on November 28-29, 2007, and was an occasion for 25 Egyptian researchers and intellectuals to share their perceptions about Egypt’s future.
Egypt is actually in great need for an alternative path that breaks off from the existing patterns, a path that embodies the ideals of reform, enlightenment, and human rights, and represents the liberals and civil society activists in general. The rivalry between the ruling regime and the Islamic movements has reached a feverish intensity, with the former desperate to stay in power, and the latter jumping at any opportunity to seize power, establish an Islamic religious state in Egypt, and from there, move in to revive the Islamic Khilafah. There is no place, in the midst of this ongoing battle between government and Islamists, for either civil state, political liberalism or general freedoms. While Islamists are seriously undertaking their mission to establish the ultimate religious state, the existing regime does not concern itself with the future of the civil state even more so than the Islamists. This unwillingness to consider the peril facing the civil state speaks volumes about the floundering condition of a government which is overly concerned with the privileges of power. The civil society in Egypt does not have the support of the government, which leaves the civil state in a vulnerable condition, and negates its chances to stand against the Islamists’ schemes. As the two opponents continued to fight over their prize, the Islamists managed to draw to their side a number of research and human rights centres, to the extent that we can presently find more than a few research centres, human rights societies and civil society organisations working to undermine the government to the benefit of the Islamists… In the same way, the analysts of the Islamic wave who crowd the satellite channels were not immune to the infiltration of Islamists, and many were swayed by the same Islamic movements they are supposed to examine neutrally.
We are explicitly working against the attempts to transform Egypt into a religious state; we work independently to uphold the principle “Egypt is for all Egyptians… Egypt comes first”, for the benefit of a civil, modern, democratic, free and prosperous Egypt, where all Egyptians stand on an equal ground, participate in every respect, and enjoy full citizenship rights, past the schism that is subverting Egypt’s essence and future.
We regard all religions neutrally and revere them equally. We respect the right of the individual to practice and enjoy full religious freedom in line with the international treaties for human rights. We absolutely do not touch on religious beliefs, but only defend the basic human right of choice.
We maintain a neutral stance towards the authorities, and a non-hostile attitude towards all. We do not seek to antagonise the regime or its security agencies, and we are not an opposition front that supports one faction against the other. We are a totally independent body that has absolutely no ties to the authorities, and acts in accordance to the Constitution, the Egyptians laws and the international treaties.
We adhere to strict work criteria to ensure a high level of professional competence and scientific accuracy. We have a high commitment to professional and general ethics and our policies and actions are motivated and guided by a genuine and profound national patriotism.
We will invest our efforts in the different phases of political action, starting with raising political awareness and human rights knowledge, followed by political development, strengthening political participation, then moving to peaceful political struggle for an Egypt that belongs, equally, to all Egyptians.
The Middle East Freedom Forum is open to all Egyptians from all walks of life, who belong to diverse religions, genders, geographical and cultural backgrounds and different age groups; it was created with one purpose in mind and that is to serve all Egyptians and attend to their concerns.
We hope that we will join with others and work together on forging a third path, and give a viable option to the Egyptian mainstream that has deemed both current paths to be unacceptable.
We rank human rights, human dignity and humanity far above the issue of state sovereignty, since the citizen’s sovereignty is the foundation for state sovereignty, and given that the common citizen occupies the highest rank in the democratic hierarchy. The purest expression of patriotic devotion is found in actions that support and emphasise human rights, and stand by the individual’s right to life, dignity, equality, just development, and full participation. A real sense of belonging and loyalty is best demonstrated in actions that promote progress and advance civil liberties and rights. To serve the interests and well-being of the Egyptian individual is, ultimately, the epitome of patriotism.
We believe that an apt civil society is, in itself, an authority entitled to scrutinise and judge the condition of the society and the political regime through fact finding, analysis and reports. Although the civil society lacks the power to enforce its decisions and verdicts, it is still a moral authority that exercises a strong influence on democratic regimes. Furthermore, it lends its support to international justice and has bearing on the global public opinion, which is, in turn, a powerful agent of change that sides with the oppressed against the unjust rulers, providing that it has access to the correct facts about the violations of rights, which brings us back to the role played by civil society organisations in relaying the facts consistently.
We believe that the typical theoretical role assigned to the well-educated and intellectuals is no longer adequate in today’s globalised world; there is an increasing need for civil society activism, and the combination of an insightful intellect, a clear vision, and a pro-right, enlightened message can be tremendously effective in furthering society’s progress and affirming the rights of its citizens.
Our work focuses on the present as well as the future, since our future is usually determined by our present actions. As we strive to change our reality and transform Egypt into a contemporary and modern state that values individual distinction, we are in fact building a better future for ourselves and our children.
We work in accordance to the mechanisms of research followed by human rights and research centres all over the world; those include the observation, monitoring, and analysis of facts, extensive studies and a subsequent defence of human rights causes. A publishing house attached to the centre will undertake the task of publishing studies and other publications issued by the centre, and make them available to readers in public libraries; it will also publish the work of contemporary and late champions of enlightenment.
We work in full transparency as an Egyptian foundation with a legitimate and legal structure; we are committed to complete transparency and to the full disclosure of our entire resources, funds and publications. There is absolutely no place for secrecy or ambiguity, as our work falls under the category of public action and will be made available to all Egyptians without exceptions.
We will make the utmost effort to become a genuine source of enlightenment by embracing the values of modernity and rationalism, fostering understanding, and encouraging an internal dialogue among Egyptians as well as an external dialogue with the West. Tolerance, love, universal human values and respect for cultural idiosyncrasies are the basis for a positive interaction with other cultures and a beneficial exchange of ideas. We hope to contribute with others in bringing about a new era of revival for Egypt where rational and logical thinking can prevail.
Serious and considerable work is required if we want Egypt to recover from its current ailing state. The global waves of development, modernity, human rights, globalisation, and democracy seem to have passed by without touching Egypt; there is a great need now to bridge the gap that separates Egypt not only from the developed world but also from other countries that have started the road towards progress in tandem with Egypt, but ended up playing a significant part in the dynamics of international economy, while Egypt is still lagging far behind.
Finally, the Middle East Freedom Forum is entirely self-funded, and did not receive funds from individuals or groups neither locally nor internationally. The centre will carry on its work with the support of our friends who believe in the significance of public action, and human rights, as well as the importance of reinforcing the values of citizenship in Egypt. We will try to increase our funds, as most research centres around the world do, through annual membership fees for individuals and institutions inside and outside the country. Members have the right to obtain the centre’s publications free of charge, and to participate in activities, seminars and conferences organised by the centre.
The gruelling efforts required to turn the Middle East Freedom Forum from a nascent and abstract idea into a concrete reality were staggering, to say the least. Nonetheless we are certain that with your support, assistance and encouragement we will be able to carry out our mission and to expand our activities for the good of our people and the good of our beloved Egypt.
Middle East Freedom Forum Director
[email protected]