Friday, February 15, 2008

Human Rights in Egypt


Human rights in Egypt under the dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak have long been in a sorry state. Under the "State of Emergency" Mubarak declared upon his accession to the Egyptian Presidency following the 1981 assassination Anwar Sadat the state has the power to imprison citizens indefinitely without reason and without trial. Among the government's targets for arrest are human rights activists, homosexuals, reformists, and opposition leaders. Once in prison these individuals face mistreatment, neglect, and torture.

A recent crack down, this time against HIV positive individuals, has pushed Egypt's human rights record to a new low. In this latest violation of basic human rights Egyptian police chained hospital patients suspected of being HIV-positive to their beds and forced them to undergo testing. Those testing positive are now being held and could face long prison sentences and torture.

America's support for this repressive, corrupt, dictator is a national disgrace and a long term liability. It is not only immoral it is not sound policy. Look no further than Iran's Islamic Revolution to see what the long term consequences of American sponsored dictatorships are.