CAIRO - Egyptian-American dissident, sociologist and human rights activist Saad Eddin Ibrahim have urged all Egyptians to participate in politics in order to positively change their country, asking them to be brave in order to achieve reforms. "Every citizen should take part in the change campaign, through writing three messages: to the lawmaker in his constituency, to the governor of his province, and to the Prime Minister," Ibrahim told a group of political activists Wednesday night. He added that Egyptians could write these messages in clear, simple language, citing flawed policies in education, market prices, health, services, and so on. "This message is the first step towards political participation and could be the first step for change," said Ibrahim, who returned to Egypt earlier this month after a three-year voluntary exile in the US. "This change needs courage, which is missing in Egypt," he said. Ibrahim's return coincides with a sensitive period in Egypt as opposition voices have become more vocal than ever before, especially over rising prices and alleged plans for hereditary succession in the Arab world's most populous country. Ten years ago, Ibrahim was charged with embezzlement and tarnishing the image of the country, in a series of trials and imprisonments that dragged on for three years and came to symbolise the state's intolerance of criticism. He was eventually acquitted. Following his meeting with former US President George W. Bush three years ago and his call to suspend US aid to Egypt to pressure its government for political reform, he was faced with a series of complaints filed by private citizens with links to the government. This forced him to leave the country or face more lengthy litigation. He received a two-year sentence in 2008 in one of those cases, but was freed after appeal.
