Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE)

Contact Information
City: 
Cairo, Egypt
e-mail: 
info@aftegypt.org
network: 
No
Description
Presentation, history and objectives: 

Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE):
Who are we?
We are an independent Association, established in 2006, interested in issues related the protection of freedom of thought and expression.
Our vision:
Freedom of thought and expression is a main corner stone of democracy and feature among those contributing to the advancement of society. Through this freedom the individual interacts with society positively in a way that is as crucial for the individual self as it is for good governance. Freedom of thought an expression is the mother freedom that must encompass all dialogues within society. The guarantee of this freedom is dependent on a system of ideas and information that is exchanged without any restraints. This does not mean that the practice of this freedom should lead to a consensus among all orientations but protecting it aims at establishing a base that provides information and guarantees its neutrality. The activists in the Center for Freedom of Thought and Expression share the stand that Egyptian society should enjoy all forms of freedom of expression it sees fit while being guaranteed the receiving and transfer of information without the intervention of a censor. In the same time we stress the importance of respect and tolerance among different people.
Our general aim:
To work towards establishing the ideals of human rights that are related to freedom of expression as they are specified in the International convention for civil and political rights (articles 19 and 21) and the International convention for economic, social and cultural rights (article 15) as well as the declaration of principles about tolerance that was announced by the 28th general convention for the UNESCO and other related treaties and conventions among citizens, legislators and activists.
Means of intervention:
The work strategy of the center depends on several means of intervention
1. Legal intervention, divided into:
a. providing legal aid and support
b. working on filing exemplary law suits the in order to reach the constitutional court to dispute some of the laws or articles of the law that are contrary to freedom of though and expression in the aim of setting legal precedence.
2. Monitoring documenting and advocate, divided into
a. Stemming from the center's interest in not working in isolation of others whether they are individuals or organizations; and in the belief that we will all benefit from each other, we find it necessary to cooperate through with all organizations in the same field as well as those organizations whose work overlaps with our own.
b. Awareness campaigns: through workshops some of which are to discuss legislation constituting a violation of the constitution and/or international covenants and agreements. The Center will further Issue reports and studies on the freedom of thought and expression in addition to enlightening the citizens with their rights
c. Pressure campaigns: aiming to put pressure on decision makers in cases were a violation, by the government or any other party, is perpetuated against organizations or individuals in violation of the rights of concern to the center.
d. Monitoring and documenting violations of freedom of opinion and expression in educational curriculums especially at the university level.
e. Sending fact finding missions in cases that demand this type of action
مؤسسة حرية الفكر والتعبير
Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression.

Programme: 

Our program
1.The Academic Freedom Program
This program is concerned with documenting violations related to the academic realm in Egypt and in providing support to those who are subject to them. It will also monitor all forms of legal restrains that restrict the teaching of particular publications especially those dealing with what is known as the holly trinity "religion, sex and politics". It will also monitor all institutional restrains on the appointment of the presidents of universities and the deans of various colleges and institutions. Falling under this category is also the restraints on the internal statutes that regulate work inside these institutions especially those related to student activities.
This program is also concerned with monitoring the groups that practice some sort of unofficial restriction on academic freedom and uses it as a weapon of threatening and intimidation in addition to law suits of the type that was filed against Dr. Nasr Hamed Abu Zaid, demanding his separation from his wife which creates a form of self censorship in the researcher and the research institutions that is rooted in criminalization and religious taboos.
2. The Monitoring Program
The center's interest in establishing a monitoring program, comes as a result of its concern for the freedom of thought and creation whether it is "artistic, literary or political" due to the constant censorship and constraints that these fields are subject to. These constraints stem from several sources related to governmental and official authorities as well as religious institutions. Some of them are also related to some political currents. Additionally there are the restraints that society imposes due to its traditional culture that is based primarily on the some narrow-minded religious conceptions.
3.The press and Journalist program
Independent free press is a popular authority that represents the public opinion trends in society it is provided with the means to support this freedom and independence.
The center therefore is concerned with defending the rights or journalists and the press through supporting the ideals of the independence of the press and the work and the freedom of journalists. This is to be achieved through protecting the journalist's right not to reveal his sources and his right of access to and distribution of, information. This is in addition to the journalists' right to issue publications and to be protected from confiscation. The center will confront all restrictions imposed on these rights.