The next round of Parliamentary elections, set for November 2010, is quickly approaching. Day after day, the levels of threat and intimidation in the electoral process, by security forces and the ruling regime in Egypt, increases to unprecedented levels.  Unfortunately in the governorate of Menofia conflict is heated, and we will see crude interventions and assaults by security forces on our campaign’s supporters and advocates.

It is worth mentioning that I won a seat in the People's Assembly in 2005 on the seat of the "peasant" or worker, and that was in the presence of judicial supervision of elections. During this election the number of votes exceeded thirty thousand for the district of Tala in the Menofia governorate alone. Following the election, my period of service for the people was marked by membership in many activities and parliamentary work within the Council, in addition to social services and development for the people. Unfortunately it was a short period, not exceeding two years, when my membership was dropped in a hasty manner unfairly in 2007 by a majority of the members of the National Democratic Party.

It appears that our presence and popularity in the Tala district of the Menofia governorate has alarmed the ruling party. Moreover, having revealed and made public several cases of corruption in Egypt has upset the regime, who retaliated by threatening to not allow our fair and equal participation in the upcoming elections. Explicitly referencing and threatening election interference is unprecedented.

We anticipate that the regime will try to stop us from accepting candidacy papers by threatening to arrest all of the agents and delegates related to our campaign, as well as the possible arrest of campaign staff and subjection to forced confinement by security forces of Egypt. Naturally those involved in the campaign, and I, will be nervous and feel pressured under these threats during the process of the election. Even the election will be laced with fraud and violent interference by security forces to prevent voters from voting in the election, with interference directed toward those who are not in support of the National Democratic Party. Civil servants operating poll stations are also members of, or loyal to, the current regime’s party, and we anticipate incidences of voter intimidation and biased behavior on Election Day. To fight back against corruption and intimidation, many other political parties and important figures are calling to boycott the election.  Despite the threats we have received, we believe in positive and inevitable participation in order to truly effect change.  We will participate.

So now, we ask all human rights organizations, the diplomatic community, and local and international media to closely follow the upcoming election period, with special attention to violations, threat, fraud and corruption. If we sincerely want to reform our society, these issues must be taken seriously.

Yours Sincerely,
                                                                                             

Anwar Esmat Al Sadat

Candidate for People’s Assembly

Tala District, Menofia Governorate