Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Dissident Saad Eddin Ibrahim signs pro-Gamal Mubarak petition
Published in Daily News Egypt on 30 - 08 - 2010

CAIRO: An Egyptian-American dissident and former advocate against heredity succession in Egypt has signed a petition backing the president's son to run in next year's elections.
Sociologist Saad Eddin Ibrahim gained prominence for being one of the first to criticize a trend toward sons succeeding their fathers in the Middle East in 2000, which earned him the ire of the regime and a three year court battle to stay out of prison.
"I signed (the petition) to support his right as a citizen to run, but I don't endorse him," Ibrahim said in a brief comment to the Associated Press on Monday while getting ready to board a flight to the United States.
Ibrahim's apparent reversal has stunned the opposition which has coalesced around the issue of stopping the president's son from succeeding his father.
The petition Ibrahim signed on Sunday is part of a campaign to nominate the 46-year-old investment banker-turned-politician even while President Hosni Mubarak himself has not said if he will serve another term.
The signatories of the petition "authorize" Gamal Mubarak to nominate himself for the presidency and represent all Egyptians.
Magdy El-Kurdi, the coordinator of the new pro-Gamal campaign, described Ibrahim's endorsement as "a positive change in his position toward Gamal."
"Dr. Saad used to say that nomination means heredity succession, now he says if Gamal secures popular support, this won't be hereditary," said El-Kurdi, a previously unknown member of a left-wing opposition.
After Ibrahim criticized apparent efforts by Mubarak to secure the presidency for his son in interviews and articles in 2000, he was charged with embezzlement and tarnishing the image of the country.
Over a period of three years he battled the charges in a string of court cases and was imprisoned twice until his final exoneration in 2003.
The US administration criticized his incarceration and the issue became a sore point between the two governments.
According to El-Kurdi, Ibrahim's move will give a boost to his campaign, known as the "the Popular Coalition to Support Gamal Mubarak for Presidential Elections," which emerged out of the blue last month, covering the streets of lower income neighborhoods with pro-Gamal posters.
El-Kurdi said so far 100,000 signatures supporting Gamal's candidacy have been collected.
The campaign is widely believed to be a trial balloon by certain factions of the ruling National Democratic Party testing Gamal's popularity ahead of a possible presidential run.
Hassan Nafaa, coordinator for opposition movement which is backing the nomination of Mohamed ElBaradei, former head of atomic watchdog, condemned Ibrahim's move.
"He's either lost his mind or there is a deal with the ruling regime," he told AP. "This is a miserable fall for Saad and no one is going to believe him anymore."
Ibrahim has also signed ElBaradei's petition calling for constitutional changes to open up the political process so that more people can participate, but Nafaa said there was a major difference between the two measures.
"The opposition are deprived of the right to run while Gamal's door is open in front of him and running for elections is just up to him and to his father," he said.


Clic here to read the story from its source.