Egypt signed the ICCPR treaty in 1967 and
ratified it in 1982. The treaty commits its
parties to respect civil and political rights of all individuals which include,
freedom of religion, right to life, freedom of speech, electoral rights,
freedom of assembly and rights to a due process on fair trial. However, in
reality it meant absolutely nothing as in the past 30 years all kinds of
violations were committed by Egypt and most signatories.
Egypt's ratification of the ICCPR came
with this interesting declaration:
... Taking into consideration the
provisions of the Islamic Sharia and the fact that they do not conflict with
the text annexed to the instrument, we accept, support and ratify it ... .
This "declaration" shows how
Sharia law, even back in 1982, was used as an excuse to avoid compliance with
articles on civil and political rights.
Why I'm posting about the ICCPR
today?
Elliot Abrams on CFR reminds Egypt that it signed the ICCPR
and that by sentencing Gamal Abdou Massoud, a 17-year-old Christian
boy to three years in jail for publishing cartoons on his Facebook page
that mocked Islam and the Prophet Mohammad, is violating its obligations under
the treaty.
Like Abrams I'm saddened and disgusted
that freedom of expression is curtailed in Egypt and that a kid is going to
prison for childish posts on Facebook. Saying that, to use the ICCPR articles
to criticize Egypt is an extremely weak argument given that many countries
signed the treaty with a long list of reservations, interpretation and
declarations making its impact minimal.
In the United States for instance the
treaty is rendered "ineffective" as it has not accepted a single
international obligation required under the Covenant and didn't not change its
domestic law to conform with the strictures of the Covenant.
Egypt on the other hand, used the "Sharia"
language to sign and later ratify the treaty but in reality made the whole
treaty "ineffective" and the Egyptian court will, unfortunately, use
Sharia to justify its ruling.
Image: L. Patzer
