7 March, 2012The Global Union Federations IMF, ICEM and ITGLWF join the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) demanding Egyptian authorities drop charges against Kamal Abbas, general coordinator of the Egyptian Center for Trade Union and Workers' Services, sentenced for six month imprisonment in February 2012.
EGYPT: According to the information received by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) on February 26 a Misdemeanor court in the city of Helwan sentenced, in absentia Kamal Abbas, coordinator of the Center for Trade Union and Workers Services, CTUWS for six months of imprisonment for "insulting a public officer" during the 2011 International Labour Conference in Geneva. The sentence refers to June 9, 2011, when Kamal Abbas interrupted Ismael Fahmy while he was delivering a speech to the Conference.
Kamal Abbas, who attended the Conference as a representative on the ITUC delegation, is accused of expressing his objection to the claim that the Egyptian Trade Union Federation, ETUF represented Egyptian workers. According to the information received, the court refers to a decision that Ismael Fahmy was the acting President of ETUF when he gave the speech.
The ITUC expressed extreme concerns by the sentence against Mr. Abbas, and its implications for Freedom of Association as well as Freedom of Expression within the confines of the ILC.
In support to the ITUC call ICEM, IMF and ITGLWF addressed a joint letter to the Egyptian authorities urging them to immediately withdraw all charges, annul the sentence, and to refrain from any further harassment against trade unionists or other civil society representatives for the exercise of their legitimate activities.
Text of the joint ICEM, IMF and ITGLWF letter is available through the link.