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Al-Ahram Weekly 10 - 16 June 1999 Issue No. 433 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 10 - 16 June 1999 Issue No. 433
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Features Books Living Travel Sports Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Unfriendly fire
By Ragab El-Banna *
Before each of President Mubarak's visits to the United States, the US media launches a campaign against Egypt for allegedly restricting freedoms and democracy, exerting pressure on NGOs and violating human rights. Since Mubarak's visit to the US, scheduled for the last week of this month, was declared, the media began its campaign. Articles and commentaries making the same allegations are published in the US every day. An article in the New York Times is one long litany of accusations: Copts are abused and oppressed, Coptic girls are raped every day in Upper Egypt... The inhabitants of Upper Egypt, however, are surprised at the stories.
In the same vein, the New York Times recently devoted considerable space to the new law regulating the activities of NGOs. The writer claimed that the legislation imposes further limitations on the activities of human rights groups in Egypt. Meanwhile, the US is preventing US human rights organisations from visiting Iraq, violating the Iraqi population's right to food and medicine, and prohibiting US companies from working with countries such as Cuba and Iran. If these actions do not compromise freedom and violate human rights, what does?
Even if the Zionist lobby is behind the campaign, it should keep in mind the fact that Egypt has signed a peace treaty with Israel, and established trade and tourist relations with that state. It would be more fruitful if Zionist groups were to try to clear rather than disturb the atmosphere in relations between the two countries. The Egyptian public is confused by the contradictory actions of the US. We do not expect unjust attacks from our friends; with friends like that, after all, who needs enemies?
*This week's Soapbox speaker is editor-in-chief of October magazine.
