The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
PRESS
RELEASE
Life of Journalist Gamal Abdel Raheem in Danger |
Tuesday, March 7, 2000
With extreme concern, the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) follows the deterioration in the health condition of Al Gomhourrya journalist Gamal Abdel Raheem. Abdel Raheem announced that he would begin a hunger strike on 26/2/2000 at the headquarters of the journalist syndicate because of a decision to transfer him to the paper's regional bureau in Aswan, about 800 km south of Cairo. He was taken to the hospital and put in the intensive care unit because of chest pains, circulatory failure and suspected Angina Pectoris. A lawyer from the EOHR met with Abdel Raheem while he was in the hospital and noted that he suffered a condition of severe general weakness, which rendered him unable to speak with people around him. When he was released from the hospital Abdel Raheem returned to the press syndicate and resumed the hunger strike which he is still on at present. Gamal Abdel Raheem has worked for Al Gomhourrya in Cairo since 1987. In 1998 an unjustified decision to remove him to the Aswan Bureau was issued and he filed a complaint. When the complaint was rejected he went on a hunger strike that drove the press union to interfere and mediation to limit the transfer period to three months. In 1999, to his surprise, Abdel Raheem was referred to a tripartite investigation committee within the paper. In response, he announced a second hunger strike on 19/3/1999, which caused his health to deteriorate. The committee decided to dismiss him, and then re-appointed him with a new salary which in effect annulled his more than 10-year seniority in the paper. He was also prevented from working and did not obtain his overdue financial entitlements. The situation escalated on 27/1/2000 when he was referred to the committee for the second time based on a letter by the editor in chief of the Al Gomhourrya, which paved the way for his dismissal on the pretense of declining to work again. At the time of this second hunger strike, the EOHR called upon all competent parties, including Chairman of the Highest Council for Press, officials in the Conflict Resolution Committee in the Journalist Syndicate, the Secretary General of the Journalist Syndicate, the head of the Journalists Syndicate and others to interfere quickly and to investigate this incident. Out of concern for the life of Abdel Raheem, the EOHR renews this call. The EOHR has confidence in the role of the Journalists Syndicate in defending the interests of its members. It also urges the Chairman of the Board of the Tahrir Establishment and the Editor in Chief of Al Gomhouryya to strive to resolve this problem in a way that guarantees Abdel Raheem's rights. The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) E-maileohr@link.com.eg Webpagehttp//www.eohr.org.eg Tel+20-(2)-3636811 +20-(2)-3620467 Fax +20-(2
