CAIRO: The first conference organized by the group Egyptians Against Religious Discrimination (MARED) got off to a tense start on Friday, after facing a fierce confrontation by a group of 'fundamentalist' journalists. Conference organizers and attendees arrived at the Journalists' Syndicate at 9 am on Friday. They found that the doors were locked, and that a group of journalists, led by syndicate committee member Gamal Abdel Rahim, had barricaded themselves in the building. "The journalists had spent the night in the Syndicate to prepare for our arrival, Nadir Shokry, media spokesperson for MARED, told Daily News Egypt. "We tried to discuss the situation with them, telling them that we had a prior booking, but they started shouting us down, chanting slogans and calling us a 'conference for Bahais, Christians and Zionists.' According to the organizers, Abdel Rahim had demonstrated strong opposition to the conference since the proposition to host it at the Syndicate was made. However, his demands that it be cancelled were refused. "We booked a conference hall at the Syndicate three months ago and were even given 20 percent discount by the head of the Syndicate, Makram Mohamed Ahmed, Nagui Artin, MARED finance manager told Daily News Egypt. "At first he was skeptical, but when we reassured him this conference was not going to discuss religion, but citizenship and doctrinal freedom, he gave it the go ahead. He also agreed to say a few words to open the proceedings. On informing Ahmed of what was happening on Friday, he arrived to convince the protesting journalists, some armed with sticks, to allow the conference attendees entry. However, the journalists refused, and after heavy arguments both on the steps and later in the syndicate lobby, Ahmed apologized to conference organizers and attendees, saying that it would have to be cancelled or moved to an alternative location. In a press statement, he announced that although he could have brought in state security to deal with the issue, this would violate Syndicate protocol. However, despite the support shown by Ahmed, conference organizers suspect there may have been some foul play within the Syndicate. "The streets outside the Syndicate were strange on Friday. Usually when something controversial is held, there is a high security presence, Mohamed Mounir, president of MARED, told Daily News Egypt. "Yesterday there was very little. When we phoned the police, it took them an hour to arrive, despite the fact the police station is a little less than five minutes away. Other organizers noticed the absence of intervention by the Syndicate's Freedoms Committee. The committee is chaired by Mohamed Abdel Qouddous, who is known to for his Muslim Brotherhood affiliations. After almost three hours of severe arguments with those inside the Syndicate, the conference was offered an alternative location in the Tagamou' Party headquarters. Although the conference continued to progress smoothly, protesters raised allegations against conference organizers and Emad Hamdy, who is responsible for the Syndicate building. "Gamal Abdel Rahiem made irrational and fantastical accusations that we invited an Israeli television channel to cover the conference. They are from O TV, which is owned by [Naguib] Sawiris. Despite unexpected hurdles, the two day conference, after a bumpy start, went ahead. "I don't like to use big words , said Mounir Megahed, co-founder of MARED, "But it is a historic event. Fundamentalists tried to stop us, but they did not succeed. They neither have the support of the syndicate head, nor the majority. Despite a majority of Christian, Bahai's and enlightened Muslims, the conference also saw religious Islamic thinkers have their say, causing more than a slight ruckus in the audience. "There is no discrimination in Egypt, announced Islamic thinker, legal activist and salafist Hamid Sadiq Sayid. "The problem lies with the implementation of the law. Everyone thinks that his own religion is right, I think that Islam is the right way and all other religions are wrong. It is natural for religions to think this, therefore religious dialogue is redundant. Other conference goers blamed the Egyptian state for actively implementing religious discrimination. "Christians, although this is against the constitution, are actively prevented from promotion in every field of state work; in the presidential guard, the national security, the high courts and defense. They pay equal taxes, but are shown no equality by what I call a fascist and wahabbist state, said Mamdouh Ramzy Esnasios, lawyer and Coptic activist. However, member of the policy committee of the National Democratic Party, Gehad Auda, presented a different picture. "Since 2002, we have designed and implemented a new policy with new focus. The state is now modeled on being a state for all, he told Daily News Egypt. Through changing references and changing terms of references we can now see cases raised by religious minorities being fought and won in a court of law.
