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### Viewing cable 10CAIRO235, A/S POSNER PRESSES GOE OFFICIALS ON THE EMERGENCY LAW

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
10CAIRO235 | 2010-02-23 12:34 | 2011-02-16 21:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Cairo

`

    VZCZCXRO0856
    RR RUEHROV
    DE RUEHEG #0235/01 0541235
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    R 231234Z FEB 10
    FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0361
    INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
    RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 000235

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 2035/02/23
    TAGS: PGOV PHUM PTER KIRF EG
    SUBJECT: A/S POSNER PRESSES GOE OFFICIALS ON THE EMERGENCY LAW

    REF: 10 CAIRO 64; 10 CAIRO 47; 09 CAIRO 1925

    CLASSIFIED BY: Margaret Scobey, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B), (D)

    ¶1. KEY POINTS

    -- (U) In January 12-14 meetings, A/S Posner stressed that U.S.
    human rights policy is based on principled engagement, universal
    standards and a recognition that reform will come from internal
    actors.  In all instances, he cited President Obama's announcement
    on his second day in office to close Guantanamo.

    -- (C) According to Interior Ministry State Security Director
    Rahman, the GOE uses the Emergency Law only in counterterrorism and
    drug cases.  He said Egypt faces a serious terrorism threat, and
    uses the Emergency Law to detain suspects without charge for
    prolonged periods.

    -- (C) Justice Minister Marie asserted that prolonged detention
    under the Emergency Law facilitates GOE investigations of terror
    networks and funding.

    -- (C) Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shehab noted that a draft
    counterterrorism law is under review, but disagreements continue
    between the Interior Ministry and other agencies over the length of
    pre-trial detention.

    ¶2. (C) A/S Posner told his interlocutors that three pillars guide
    the Obama Administration's human rights policy:  principled
    engagement with foreign countries in a spirit of friendship;
    universal standards for all countries, including the United States,
    based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and the
    recognition that reform will come from internal, not external,
    actors.  A/S Posner noted that strong governments conduct an open
    dialogue with a variety of stakeholders, and partner with robust
    civil society organizations.  A/S Posner queried GOE officials on
    the Emergency Law's uses and prolonged detention without charge.
    He urged the GOE to replace the State of Emergency with a law
    specifically focused on counterterrorism.

    --------------------------------------------- -----------

    Interior Ministry State Security Director General Rahman

    --------------------------------------------- -----------

    ¶3. (C) State Security Investigative Services Chief General Hassan
    Abdel Rahman said that Egypt suffers from an "acute terrorist
    threat," and the Emergency Law helps protect the country's "safety
    and security."  He characterized the region as "unstable," and
    asserted that terrorism originating from Gaza directly threatens
    Egypt.  According to Rahman, the Muslim Brotherhood is the "mother
    of all extremism and terrorism in Egypt and the world."  "We
    consider Hamas to be the military wing of the international Muslim
    Brotherhood," he stated.  Rahman noted that to balance security
    with human rights, the GOE is working to replace the State of
    Emergency with a counterterrorism law.  He said the GOE uses the
    Emergency Law only in counterterrorism and drug cases, and the
    law's "only benefit" is that it allows the government to detain
    suspects without charge for long periods.

    ¶4. (C) A/S Posner asked why the GOE has detained blogger Hany Nazir
    under the Emergency Law without charge since October 2008.  (Note:
    per ref B, Nazir, a Coptic Christian, was detained following blog
    posts deemed offensive to Islam and Christianity.  End note.)
    General Rahman responded that Nazir's posts criticizing Islam were
    inflammatory, and in the context of Upper Egyptian sectarian
    tensions could have caused Muslims to attack him.  Therefore,
    Rahman continued, the GOE detained Nazir "for his own security."
    Rahman claimed that the GOE detained Nazir under the Emergency Law
    to gather evidence to prosecute him for defaming religion.

    CAIRO 00000235  002 OF 002

    ----------------------

    Justice Minister Marie

    ----------------------

    ¶5. (C) Justice Minister Mahmoud Marie told A/S Posner the GOE uses
    the Emergency Law to combat terrorism, citing the February 2009
    bombing at the Khan El-Khalili market in Cairo and other attacks on
    tourists in the 1990s.  He said the Emergency Law allows detention
    while the GOE investigates terrorist organizations and funding.
    According to Marie, Egypt expects terror attacks "every day," and
    cannot use the same procedures relevant to crimes committed by
    "ordinary citizens."  In response to A/S Posner's question
    regarding bloggers jailed under the Emergency Law, Marie contended
    that these cases have not stopped other bloggers from expressing
    themselves, but acknowledged his lack of familiarity with the
    details.

    -----------------------------------------

    Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shehab

    -----------------------------------------

    ¶6. (C) Minister of State for Parliamentary and Legal Affairs Mufeed
    Shehab described the State of Emergency as a "weak point" in
    Egypt's reform process, and "a problem" for U.S.-Egyptian bilateral
    relations, Egypt's image abroad and the February 17 UN Human Rights
    Council's Universal Periodic Review of Egypt.  He said that
    disagreements persist between the Interior Ministry and other
    ministries over the MOI's interest in a longer pre-trial detention
    period in the draft counterterrorism law that would replace the
    State of Emergency.  Shehab believed detainees in custody under the
    Emergency Law should either be released or tried in regular courts,
    but mentioned MOI concerns about releasing a large number of
    Islamist detainees at once.  Shehab noted he is "pressing" the
    inter-agency committee to approve the draft law by February.

    --------------------------------------------- -

    MFA Deputy Assistant Minister for Human Rights

    --------------------------------------------- -

    ¶7. (C) Deputy Assistant Minister for Human Rights Wael Aboulmagd
    stressed President Mubarak's commitment to lifting the State of
    Emergency and enacting a counterterrorism law in its place.
    Aboulmagd noted interagency disagreements over the length of
    pre-trial detention in the draft counterterrorism law.  He said
    that detainees under the Emergency Law can receive lawyers and
    other visitors, and can appeal their detention.  (Note:  In
    detention cases under both the Emergency Law and the penal code,
    such as the detained bloggers per ref B, the government has
    prevented lawyers from visiting their clients.  End note.)

    ¶8. (U) A/S Posner cleared this message.
    SCOBEY

`