Ayman Nour’s speech to US Congress: I reject trial of Khairat Al-Shater’s group before martial court

Ayman Nour’s speech to US Congress: I reject trial of Khairat Al-Shater’s group before martial court

Dr. Ayman Nour, former leader of Al-Ghad Party, said in a speech by telephone from Cairo to the U.S. Congress during a special session on the development of democracy in Egypt day before that he supports the decision to increase the U.S. aid to Egypt by $360 million without conditions. At the same time, he expressed satisfaction at the draft law condemning human rights violations in Egypt.


 


Nour said he received an invitation to meet with members of the U.S. Congress and have lunch with U.S. President Barack Obama, but he refused and preferred to be a telephone interposition.


 


“In my speech, Nour said, I called for increasing the U.S. “unconditional” aid to Egypt by $360 million, as this aid is directed to the Egyptian people to help them face the deteriorating economic situation. Although I”m with the US condemnation to human rights violations in Egypt, the Egyptian-US relationship should not be based on conditions and bargains.”


 


“I also called for taking a stance towards the prisoners of conscience in Egypt and canceling trying civilians before military courts as was the case with Khairat al-Shater, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) First Deputy Chairman, and Magdi Hussein, secretary general of the “frozen” Labor Party, in addition to those who have been detained after taking part in peaceful demonstrations such as Mus”ad Abu Fagr, founder of “We want to live” movement and blogger Kareem Amer.”


 


“I also talked about the difficulties I have been facing since I was released. I was banned from nominating myself in elections and the headquarters of my party has been burnt as if I came out of a small prison to a larger prison.


 


“I also put forward ten principles of Cairo Declaration that includes a plan for comprehensive political reform.»


 


Asked about the capacity that enabled him to speak before Congress, he said: “It is the same capacity that enabled Gamal Mubarak to recently travel to the United States, namely his post as the assistant secretary general of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP).


 


It is also the same capacity that enabled colleagues Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, Hossam Badrawi, and Abdel-Moneim Said to travel to the US to explain our point of view for the world.”