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Contact: Loralei Coyle 202-682-4131, 202-905-6852 cell, lcoyle@ird-renew.org; Radio Interviews: Jeff Walton, jwalton@ird-renew.org; both with The Institute on Religion and Democracy
WASHINGTON, October 3 /Standard Newswire/ -- The Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom (SSVF) and the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) are calling on the Egyptian government to stop attacking Sudanese who flee from Egypt to Israel. Jimmy Mulla, president of the SSVF, and Faith McDonnell, director of the Church Alliance for a New Sudan at IRD, in a recent meeting on Capitol Hill, requested help from the office of U.S. Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA) to secure the human rights of these refugees. Wolf invited his House colleagues to sign a letter to the Egyptian government. Mulla and McDonnell applaud the 34 Members of Congress who have spoken out against these actions.
In their September 26, 2007 letter delivered to Nabil Fahmy, Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S., Rep. Wolf and the 33 other Representatives expressed their "deep concern over recent reports that several Sudanese refugees have been shot by Egyptian border crossing guards." They went on to say they "are aware of the great pressure on the region to absorb large refugee populations, and hope that Egypt will lead other countries with an example of humane, respectful practices…"
Faith McDonnell, IRD Director of Church Alliance for a New Sudan explained:
"The condition of the Sudanese in Egypt was precarious in any case. Because of the cozy relationship between Egypt and the National Congress Party in Sudan, the regime that was responsible for the genocide against black, African Sudanese, they are not recognized as refugees, but left in an indeterminate state and denied basic services such as health, education, and employment."
Jimmy Mulla, president of Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring peace in Sudan stated:
"The latest Egyptian violence against Sudanese refugees is part of an ongoing pattern. As long as two years ago, more than 32 people, including women and children, were killed when Egyptian police cleared a Sudanese refugee camp in Cairo, using water cannons and heavy batons.
"The SSVF-supported effort to monitor and oppose Egyptian violence against Sudanese refugees will continue until the inhumane practices cease."
(The letter from the Members of Congress to the Egyptian Government can be viewed on IRD's website, www.ird-renew.org)
