Model motion on Egypt (HE/FE unions)

Read more on the repression of students in a recent report by Amnesty International.
See below for a model motion for student unions.

1. This union notes with grave concern the far-reaching assault on human rights currently underway in Egypt, three years after the uprising which toppled Mubarak. According to Amnesty International the Egyptian military and security forces have killed around 1,400 people and detained thousands since July 2013. University campuses have been repeatedly invaded by riot police, who have shot dead students in an attempt to crush ongoing protests against the military regime. Over 500 students have been arrested since July 2013, and many have received harsh jail terms, some as long as 17 years. Egyptian human rights lawyers told Amnesty that many recent detainees were arrested arbitrarily as they attended university exams or went to collect study papers. Academics have also been targeted: large numbers of alleged supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood have been sacked or arrested.
2. This union calls for:

• immediate and unconditional release of those imprisoned for exercising rights to freedom of expression and of assembly;
• repeal of Law 107 of 2013, restricting rights to public assembly;
• independent investigation into state violence and criminality, including assaults on those exercising any of the rights and freedoms above;
• an immediate end to trials of civilians in military and State Security courts

3. This union resolves to work with MENA Solidarity Network, other campus unions and student unions to establish a broad-based solidarity initiative to defend Egyptians under threat from the military regime by [amend as appropriate for your local circumstances]

• making a donation of £XX towards solidarity campaign expenses
• inviting MENA Solidarity to propose a speaker on Egypt for our next meeting
• circulating solidarity appeals and information about the campaign to our members and encouraging them to participate in solidarity action
• writing to the Egyptian authorities condemning the military repression
• writing to the UK government calling for the immediate suspension of all financial, military or other support to the Egyptian authorities which may be used to violate the rights of Egyptian citizens. In particular, we demand immediate cessation of all sales and transfers to the Egyptian government of weapons, ammunition, vehicles, cyber-surveillance technology and other materials for use against those who exercise their right to protest.

4. This union resolves to send this motion to our regional or sector committee / national conference

Model motion on Egypt (student unions)

1. This union notes with grave concern the far-reaching assault on human rights currently underway in Egypt, three years after the uprising which toppled Mubarak. According to Amnesty International the Egyptian military and security forces have killed around 1,400 people and detained thousands since July 2013. University campuses have been repeatedly invaded by riot police, who have shot dead students in an attempt to crush ongoing protests against the military regime. Over 500 students have been arrested since July 2013, and many have received harsh jail terms, some as long as 17 years. Egyptian human rights lawyers told Amnesty that many recent detainees were arrested arbitrarily as they attended university exams or went to collect study papers. Academics have also been targeted: large numbers of alleged supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood have been sacked or arrested.
2. This union calls for:

• immediate and unconditional release of those imprisoned for exercising rights to freedom of expression and of assembly;
• repeal of Law 107 of 2013, restricting rights to public assembly;
• independent investigation into state violence and criminality, including assaults on those exercising any of the rights and freedoms above;
• an immediate end to trials of civilians in military and State Security courts

3. This union resolves to work with MENA Solidarity Network, other campus unions and student unions to establish a broad-based solidarity initiative to defend Egyptians under threat from the military regime by [amend as appropriate for your local circumstances]

• making a donation of £XX towards solidarity campaign expenses
• inviting MENA Solidarity to propose a speaker on Egypt for our next meeting
• circulating solidarity appeals and information about the campaign to our members and encouraging them to participate in solidarity action
• writing to the Egyptian authorities condemning the military repression
• writing to the UK government calling for the immediate suspension of all financial, military or other support to the Egyptian authorities which may be used to violate the rights of Egyptian citizens. In particular, we demand immediate cessation of all sales and transfers to the Egyptian government of weapons, ammunition, vehicles, cyber-surveillance technology and other materials for use against those who exercise their right to protest.