The Engineers Syndicates in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq reiterated their calls to relocate the headquarters of the Federation of Arab Engineers outside Egypt. The calls for its relocation come in the wake of the syndicate's continued sequestration in Egypt, despite several court rulings. The three syndicates oppose the sequestration which was imposed on the Engineers Syndicate over 19 years ago, suspending internal elections. Abdallah Ebaidat, head of the Jordanian Engineers Syndicate said it was no longer acceptable to keep the headquarters of the Federation of Arab Engineers in Cairo, at a time when the Egyptian Engineers Syndicate, which is an active member of the union, does not conduct internal democratic elections. The lack of elections, he added, violates the rules set by the federation which clearly state that Arab engineering syndicates should hold elections. In statements to the Jordanian paper Al Dostour, Ebaidat said the Federation of Arab Engineers had threatened to relocate its headquarters from Cairo to another Arab state if the Egyptian Engineers Syndicate remains under sequestration and does not hold elections as soon as possible. The three-member committee requested to meet with the Egyptian Prime Minister, Ebaidat added. After the meeting, the syndicate's Supreme Council, which is currently calling for the cancellation of the sequestration, will inform him of the decision, he added. If the government does not heed the call, the headquarters will be relocated. Several Jordanians, Iraqis and Lebanese have called for the relocation of the headquarters due to the suspension of elections, said Omar Abdallah , general coordinator of Engineers Against Sequestration. The Egyptian government will be held responsible for shrinking Egypt's role in the Arab world if the headquarters is actually relocated, he added. Abdallah went on to accuse businessman and engineer Ahmed Ezz, secretary general of the organization at the National Democratic Party, of being responsible for the suspension of elections at the syndicate, as Ezz allegedly believes the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) would seize control of the syndicate. Abdallah added that such fears are groundless as the MB previously announced it was only contesting half of the seats in the syndicate.
