Mohamed ElBaradei, former director of the International Atomic Energy Agency and potential candidate in next year's presidential elections, met with the representatives of ten human rights organizations at his home for more than two hours on Tuesday. Bahi Eddin Hassan, director of the Cairo Human Rights Center, said the gathering had addressed human rights issues and the need to abolish Egypt's longstanding state of emergency. "We didn't discuss ElBaradei's recent meeting with [Coptic] Pope Shenouda III," Hassan said. "But ElBaradei expressed his opinion that, from a human rights perspective, the Coptic community was being unjustly treated." According to Mohamed Megahid, head of the Egyptians against Religious Discrimination movement, the meeting had been ElBaradei's idea. "I agree with ElBaradei that religion is for God, while the nation is for all," he said. ElBaradei has reportedly instructed his own security personnel not to allow reporters to cover any of his meetings, except those with artists and writers. Commenting on yesterday's 6 April demonstrations, ElBaradei declared via Twitter: "Police assaulting a peaceful demonstration is an insult to the dignity of all Egyptians." Translated from the Arabic Edition.
