Free Philip Rizk!

Updates/Facebook: Support and Prayer for the Safe Release of Philip Rizk

Good backgrounder: Philip Rizk – Egypt’s Latest Political Captive

Update:
Ryan Shiffer for Voices for Creative Nonviolence writes:

Dear Friends,

Please take some time and action to let the Egyptian Gov’t that the Eyes of the World are on them. Please write Egyptian Embassies where ever they are and especially the one in Washington DC that this egregious violation of human rights will not be tolerated by the peace loving people who live around the globe.

Philip Rizk was abducted by Egyptian authorities Friday evening and is still being held without charge. Philip, a German-Egyptian activist and a graduate student at the American University in Cairo, was arrested Friday in Cairo while participating in a protest against the Rafah border closure into Gaza. Rizk, who blogs about relief work in Gaza at tabulagaza.blogspot.com, has been working to get medical and relief supplies into the Gaza Strip. His help to Voices on Kathy’s recent trip to Gaza was invaluable.

Philip was separated from his fellow protesters, placed in a van, and whisked away by Egypt’s security police. Rizk has been detained and no information of his whereabouts has been released to his lawyers or family.

In the early morning of February 9, 2009, the security police came to the home of Philip’s parents and proceeded to search the house, without a warrant, for evidence against Philip. They attempted to take Philip’s father and threatened to search his office as well.

The Egyptian government is well-known for its torture of political detainees. Please join us in protesting Egypt’s repressive practices and preventing further detention of Philip Rizk:

• Call for the immediate and unconditional release of Philip Rizk
• Call for the release of any information regarding Philip Rizk’s whereabouts to his lawyers and family

Below is a sample petition to the Egyptian Consulate in Chicago. Please sign your name, include your e-mail address and send this petition via fax or e-mail to the Egyptian Embassy in Washington, D.C.  Calls can be made as well urging his release.

Thank you,

Ryan Shiffer

February 9, 2009

Consular General of the Arab Republic of Egypt
500 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60611

Fax (312) 828-9167
Tel. (312) 828-9162
Email: egyptembassydc@yahoo.com

RE: Philip Rizk

Dear Consular General,

I am concerned about Philip Rizk, the Egyptian-German student who has been held by State Security authorities in Nasr City since Friday, February 6, 2009.

Rizk was detained by Egyptian police while returning to Cairo from Qalyoubia, and his detainment has now garnered widespread media attention, with articles written by numerous international news agencies including Reuters, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and BBC News.

We demand that Rizk, who has not been formally charged with any crime, be released from detention immediately. We also demand that Egypt’s State Security Investigations cease all harassment of Rizk’s family, whose home in Cairo was raided at 1:30 a.m. Monday, February 9, 2009.

Respectfully,