Egypt-Sudan: Legal threats against Human Rights Defender

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, 
a joint programme of the FIDH and OMCT, requests your 
URGENT intervention regarding the following situation in Egypt.

Brief description of the situation :

The Observatory would like to express its concern for the 
security of Mr. Farouk Abu Eissa, Secretary General of the 
Arab Lawyers Union, member of the Board of Trustees of the 
Arab Organisation for Human Rights (AOHR) and member of 
the Executive Council of the World Organisation Against 
Torture (OMCT).

The Observatory has been informed by the Egyptian 
Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), member of the OMCT 
network and the FIDH, that the Sudanese government has 
submitted an application to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, asking 
for the extradition of Mr. Farouk Abu Eissa for allegedly being 
involved in a number of explosions that recently took place in 
Khartoum, Sudan. Mr. Abu Eissa has reportedly denied these 
accusations. The Sudanese government's request is grounded in 
the Arab Convention to Combat Terrorists (which has not yet 
entered into force).

Actions requested :

Please write to the Egyptian authorities urging them to :

i.-	ensure the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. 
Farouk Abu Eissa at all times ;

ii.-	ensure that he may continue to reside in Egypt ;

iii.-conform their actions to the international instruments on 
    human rights norms ratified by Egypt and guarantee the 
    freedom of expression and opinion and the right to a fair 
    and impartial trial.

Addresses :

His Excellency Mohammad Hosni Mubarak, President of the 
Arab Republic of Egypt, ´Abedine Palace, Cairo, Egypt. Telex : 
93794 WAZRA UN

His Excellency General Hassan al-Afly, Minister of the Interior, 
Ministry of the Interior, Al-Sheikh Rihan Street, Bab al-Louk, 
Cairo, Egypt. Telex : 21361 MOICM UN - Fax : + 202 355 
7792

His Excellency Mr. Faruq Sayf Al-Nasr, Minister of Justice, 
Ministry of Justice, Midan Lazoghly, Cairo, Egypt. Fax : + 202 
355 8103

The Diplomatic Representatives of Egypt in your country.

Geneva - Paris, 27 July 1998

Kindly inform the Observatory of any action undertaken quoting 
the code number of this appeal in your reply.

The Human Rights Action Network, a part of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.