 |
Shattered rights
Editorial comment, Financial Times May 29 2001
Europe Must Take Action on Algeria (Petition)
The harsh sentencing of Egypt's most prominent political scientist underscores the Egyptian regime's intolerance and damages the image of a government valued for its moderating influence in the Middle East.
Saad el-Din Ibrahim last week received a seven-year sentence on charges including embezzlement and receiving unauthorised funds from foreign donors.
There is no doubt that the accusations were politically motivated and that the trial aimed at silencing dissent. Mr Ibrahim had documented cases of electoral fraud and dared to suggest that Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, might be grooming his son for succession.
Western governments should not remain silent. Mr Mubarak's moderate voice in the Arab-Israeli conflict is needed but this should not justify turning a blind eye to his regime's abuses.
Unfortunately, Egypt is far from being the only north African state muzzling civil liberties. Tunisia has for years been waging a campaign against human rights activists. The harassment culminated this year in the trial of the human rights league, which had elected an unusually outspoken leadership.
Individual rights remain precarious in Morocco, where King Mohammad took over two years ago promising to turn the page on the country's dark past. This month 36 human rights defenders were sentenced to three months in prison on charges of holding an illegal demonstration. Their real crime was to have alleged the implication of some current officials in past abuses.
More egregious is the behaviour of the Algerian regime whose generals have yet to accept independent investigations into more than eight years of civil war or answer accusations of security forces' involvement in the violence.
The Algerian regime has done nothing to improve its record. Security forces this month shot dead more than 50 young Berbers in anti-government riots.
Western governments have justified their muted response to abuses in north Africa by claiming that pressure would bolster Islamist opposition groups and destabilise the western-friendly regimes. The repression, however, is now targeting critics committed to secular values and to building a civil society.
The US should use its influence with Egypt to ensure a fair appeal for Mr Ibrahim. The European Union can use its association agreements with north African states to hold them accountable when they disregard human rights.
Respect for individual liberties and a vibrant civil society are, after all, the best guarantee of stability.