| Saadeddin Ibrahim detained 15 days at Tora prison |
After approximately 8 hours of interrogation, sociologist and American University in Cairo professor Saadeddin Ibrahim has been placed under arrest for 15 days pending further investigation. He has been charged with receiving funds from foreign sources under false pretenses and attempting to tarnish Egypt's reputation. Ibrahim has been charged under military decree 4/1992, and if convicted could face up to 15 years in prison. Strikingly enough, Ibrahim was arrested solely on the basis of the state security bureau memorandum of investigation. Ibrahim's interrogation reportedly focused on the operational logistics of the Ibn Khaldun Center and its proposal writing process. According to attorney Negad Al Borai, security forces confiscated documents and computers from Ibrahim's Ibn Khaldun Center, but the alleged evidence was not opened during the interrogation, even after Ibrahim's lawyers insisted that it be brought to bear on the case. "They could not produce one shred of material evidence to support these charges," said Saadeddin's wife, Barbara Ibrahim, who is the senior representative of The National Population Council. "This is clearly part of an orchestrated effort to silence him during the upcoming elections." Ibrahim's Ibn Khaldun Center has been involved in efforts to register voters for parliamentary elections, scheduled to be held sometime this fall. Ibrahim has been transferred to Tora Prison, reportedly in good condition. |
