CTUWS Program Coordinator Stopped
At Cairo International Airport Before Departure to USA For
The Executive Committee Meeting Of the
International Federation of Workers Education Associations (IFWEA)
While she was leaving Cairo International Airport to the USA on Thursday 8th October 2009 the Program Coordinator of the Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS) Ms. Rahma Refaat was stopped and her passport was held for about two hours. The airport security authorities refused to provide any clear answer or justification for these procedures.
Ms. Rahma was on her way to the USA to attend the meetings of the Executive Committee of the International Federation of Workers Education Associations (IFWEA). She was elected member of IFWEA's Executive Committee in its last conference held in Ahmadabad, India. The International Federation of Workers Education Associations has 104 trade union and workers education associations affiliates from 65 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe in addition to countries from the Arab region.
It is worthy mentioning that this is the third time that Egyptian security authorities adopt such measures against CTUWS' activities during more than two years. These measures were stopped according to a request from the National Council for Human Rights.
While the CTUWS expresses its astonishment and deep concern due to the return of such unjustifiable measures, it emphasizes the right of its representatives and activists to freedom of movement and participation in international activities without being subject to violence, coercion ro psychological offense. At the same time, the CTUWS calls for putting and end to all sorts of detention, harassment and persecution against the activists and defenders of human rights, freedoms and democracy either during their departure from or returning to their homeland.
The Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS)
Saturday, 10 October 2009