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Sunday, 8 Feb 2009
Philip Rizk, a german-egyptian filmmaker , was kidnapped by state security two days ago, when he was returning with a bunch of his activist friends from Qaluybia. The car was stopped, and of all the people in the car, he was picked out:
Said said police had detained their vehicle for several hours and
then said they wanted to talk with Rizk. They put him in a vehicle with
no licence plates and sped off. Other policemen then blocked the
activists' vehicle to prevent them from following."We don't know where he is, and there is no formal charge," Rizk's
sister said. She added that the German embassy had been notified and
were attempting to locate him.
This was 2 days ago, and there was no word of him, his whereabouts, or whether or not he is safe. This is a guy who, mind you, didn't advocate armed resistance in Ghaza, didn't support Hamas, didn't even demand retaliation for what happened. All his work is about non-violent resistance and activism. And that was enough for the egyptian authorities to make an example out of him.
Yesterday, the following happened:
Phil's parents went to the High Court downtaown Cairo to file a
complaint with the General Prosecutor against State Security for
abducting Philip.A lot of friends have gathered outside the
Court house to show support and solidarity.The American University is
involved as well as the German Embassy (who was told at first by the
Sate Security that nobody called Philip had been arrested, later they
did acknowledge he was there).Meanwhile through other contacts
we were able to locate Philip, he is being held by State Security at
their headquarters in downtown Cairo.
Now, even though he is located, even though he is being detained without charges (and what would the charges be? Organizing a peaceful march? Advocating non-violence?), even though he is half german, they still won;t let him out. The German passport is no shield in his case, because he is half egyptian, and thus prosecutable under egyptian law. Ha, egyptian law. What a joke.
I've known Philip from back in school and throughout my childhood. He is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet. He doesn;t deserve this. No one deserves this. No one deserves to be kidnapped by his own country's police, especially not for advocating peaceful and non-violent activism to a problem mirred with violence at all ends. So please, help us release him. If you have a media friend, let him know. If you have a blog, please post about it. Even if you disagree with his position, do it because someone's human rights have been violated, for advocating peaceful activism, no less.
Help us get him out. Please!
February 8th, 2009 at 6:34 am
WTF! Those people are going nuts or what?
First, the emergency law is supposed to be there to preserve the country from terrorism.. then it evolved to the detention of the Ikhwan with the excuse that their ideas might somehow lead to terrorism.. but plz can someone tell me how this guy in the picture can be the source of any danger for the people living in this country?
February 8th, 2009 at 8:51 am
there are no words… just a good old egyptian snort.
February 8th, 2009 at 9:00 am
This is really sad and disturbing news. Is there anything members of the public can do to help Philip? I supposed I can call my senators and urge them to get involved.
You know, I have to tell you SM, I really like your blog and your snarky, cynical yet somehow life-affirming sensibility. And so I appreciate that you don’t side with the Israelis or the Palestinians, but basically make fun of the jackasses on both sides. BUT I am feeling really depressed lately. “My” side (well, I’m not Israeli but Jewish) has gone insane. After yearning sincerely for peace for most of my lifetime — though doing plenty of fucked up things that made peace more remote — but still, at least wanting peace… the Israelis have now gone officially insane. Only in an insane political culture does a man supposedly of the left like Ehud Barak boast that he’s tough because he’s shot people and that fascist over there is all talk. The Israel I grew up with was not perfect, but they gave back every inch of Sinai for peace with Egypt because they believed that peace with their neighbors was the prime national goal, for which it was worth taking big risks. Can you imagine any of the bullying midgets who now run the country taking such a step? A society that is even close to electing Bibi Netanyahu for a second stint as PM, and that could give Avigdor Lieberman 1/8th of the seats in its parliament… well, that is a society unhinged emotionally and divorced from reality. I am very very depressed.
February 8th, 2009 at 9:04 am
The German embassy is not doing anything about this?
Do you think it’s just about the govt. being threatened by non violent activism? is that possible? Freakin Arabs… we don’t deserve people like him to fight for our issues… I hope this ends well
February 8th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I saw the beginning of the protest at AUC, which was really just a bunch of American or other international students standing in the middle of the plaza holding up Free Philip signs.
Why don’t Egyptian students get involved? What harm could come in protesting at AUC? It was similarly disappointing to me last year when the students standing up for Gaza were the Americans.
I know Egyptians aren’t used to protesting, but is that all that’s going on? Certainly AUC’s Egyptian students got fired up about food prices on the new campus. Why not a jailed fellow student?
(Maybe the demonstration got bigger after I left. I hope so.)
Also, what good could possibly come of protesting at AUC?