Statement on the right to strike and protest in Egypt

The Egyptian people showed immense courage in overthrowing the dictator Mubarak. They braved armoured cars and bullets in order to win freedom and social justice. We call on Egypt’s current military and civilian rulers to respect the Egyptian people’s democratic rights, including the right to protest and strike. We call on the Egyptian cabinet to reverse its decision of 23 March 2011 to criminalise protests and strike action and to threaten those ’inciting’ such action with imprisonment or huge fines. We demand that the British government cease to provide assistance, arms or equipment to the Egyptian army and security forces which could be used to repress strikes and protests.

We send our greetings to our brothers and sisters in Egypt’s independent trade unions, and pledge that we will not stand by while their rights are under threat. We will mobilise whatever solidarity we can to support their struggle for political freedom and social justice.

Please sign yourself and push for reps, Branch Secretaries, NEC members, national officers and General Secretaries etc to sign. Rush signatures to menasolidarity@gmail.com

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Statement organised by Solidarity with MENA Workers Network. To add your name please email and we will pass on the statement and signatories to the Egyptian Independent Union Federation.

You can send protests directly to the Egyptian Prime Minister, Essam Sharaf at pm@cabinet.gov.eg
Details of the cabinet decision in English can be found online here : http://www.egyptiancabinet.gov.eg/Media/NewsDetails.aspx?id=2260