CAIRO: Neither American concern over the human rights situation here nor the Egyptian government's response to US criticism have been well-received by human rights advocates in Egypt. "Both US statements and the Egyptian responses give us a strong sense of déjà vu. It's business as usual and we have learnt the hard way that all this has no impact on the ground whatsoever, Director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights Hossam Bahgat told Daily News Egypt. Acting Director of the Hesham Mubarak Center, an organization that helps defend political dissidents, Khaled Aly Omar, told Daily News Egypt that "the human rights movement does not stop at the local level, we do need international solidarity but only if it comes from a country that respects human rights, which the US doesn't. "The United States is exploiting the Egyptian human rights movement politically, Omar added, "it is one of the worst abusers of human rights and it also lacks credibility here because of its support to the regime. President Hosni Mubarak had replied to White House statements indicating American concern over recent crackdowns on the press and NGOs in Egypt by rejecting any interference. Mubarak responded to the Washington criticism in a nationwide speech on Monday in Alexandria by stressing that Egypt would not be influenced by external pressure. Egypt "will not accept pressure or interference in its internal affairs, he said. "We extend a hand of friendship and cooperation with all, Mubarak said, "but no one can impose on us what we don t accept and which does not comply with our position toward Egyptian and regional issues. But human rights advocates did not receive Mubarak's comments in a more favourable light. "When the Egyptian government sought membership to the United Nations Human Rights Council, it effectively consented to subject its human rights record to scrutiny, Bahgat said, "so it is unacceptable for the government to declare it's a domestic affair. It must accept these standards rather than hide behind obsolete statements of sovereignty. Egypt's first official response came last week from a foreign ministry statement which condemned the US criticism. "The statement issued by the White House spokesperson over press freedom and civil society is interference in our domestic affairs that is unacceptable to Egypt, it said. "The Egyptian government is trying to defend itself, Omar said, "it doesn't absolve them but we also need to be careful about who it is that is talking, so that we are not used. The White House Press Secretary Dana Perino had commented late last month in reference to crackdowns on opposition newspaper editors and the closure of an NGO called the Association for Human Rights Legal Aid for accepting foreign funding without prior permission that "these latest decisions appear to contradict the Egyptian government s stated commitment to expand democratic rights. The NGO was the first organization to become involved in a lawsuit against a state security officer for accusations of torture. The case ended on Sept. 5 with the acquittal of the officer. "Journalists and NGOs in Egypt and elsewhere should be permitted to carry out their peaceful work in a hospitable environment free from fear of harassment, reprisal, intimidation and discrimination, Perino added. Speaking on behalf of the Bush administration, she urged the Egyptian government to "expand protections for journalists and lift the restrictions on NGO activities, including limits on organizations ability to accept foreign funding. "The US administration should leave us alone, but the American people concerned with human rights are welcome as well as international human rights organizations, said Omar, "this is what I mean by international solidarity. "There is a public rejection of what the US says and American statements harm the local human rights movements, the American human rights image is a shambles, he added. Bahgat said "They made a lot of statements in 2005 and 2006 and nothing happened then either. However, he added, "the only positive outcome of the White House remarks is that it helps mitigate the concurring statements of the American ambassador to Cairo [Francis J. Ricciardone] who consistently heaps praise on the Egyptian government to the extent that he sounds more like an Egyptian government official than an American one. This has damaged US credibility. Omar said: "At this moment I prefer Mubarak over Bush, even though he's a dictator and I want him gone, but rather him than Bush.
