Arresting the Quran aloners in Egypt

[AhmedBahgat]

Admin court to decide on Quranist's case on July 31

By Ethar Shalaby
First Published: July 5, 2007

CAIRO: The administrative court has postponed till July 31the appeal hearing of detained members of the Quranist movement.

Adel Ramadan, the lawyer representing the detainees in the case, told The Daily Star Egypt that on May 29, national security forces had broken into the homes of four members of the Quranist movement at about 2 am and detained them without clear charges. Two days later, another member was arrested.

According to Ramadan, the Quranists are a group of Muslims who believe that the Quran should be the only frame of reference in Islam, dismissing large parts of the sunnah (actions and sayings) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

"They do not believe in what is called �??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�???????sunna motwaheda�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¢ which refers to the sayings of the Prophet that have been transmitted through only one source, as opposed to a whole circle of sources. They believe such hadiths [sayings] lack credibility and are full of mistakes,�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�� said Ramadan.

He continued that they believe in only in hadiths which have been confirmed by many sources.

But their belief that the Quran is a holy book protected by God, as opposed to the sunna which might have been wrongly narrated is the most controversial of their claims, Ramadan said.

The Quranists are charged with "contempt for religion," according to Article 98 of the penal code, which warrants a five-year prison sentence.

He said there have been many legal procedures taken in the issue. The minister of interior decided on their political arrest, while the national security prosecution decided on their temporary detainment.

"There is a double legal situation. We requested an appeal on the decision taken by the national security prosecution, but their lawyer rejected our appeal, but this is an illegal procedure, according to the latest amendments to the constitution that allows any detained person to appeal his case," said Ramadan.

The Quranists spread their ideas through a website called "Ahl El Quran". Ahmed Mansour, a former professor at Al-Azhar University who is currently a refugee in the United States, was the first to adopt the ideas of the movement in the 1980s, but no legal procedure was taken against him.

But when Mansour�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¢s brother Abdel Latif, began republishing his work, he was detained and accused of spreading false ideas about Islam.

Mahmoud Dahmash, the brother of 30-year-old Ahmed Dahmash, one of the other detainees in the case, said they should not have been detained for a crime that the court had not yet ruled one.

"If the police is suspicious of something, why should they arrest people in the middle of the night before investigating?" Mahmoud Dahmash told The Daily Star Egypt.

He insisted that his brother did not belong to any religious groups or work on spreading any false ideas, but that he only happens to be a friend of Abdel Latif Mohamed Mansour, the main detainee in the case.

"The lawyer told us that Ahmed is accused of contempt for religion, but I think they arrested him because of his friend. When they arrested him in the middle of the night, they confiscated most of his books and personal documents," said Dahmash.

Relatives of other members refused to comment on the case, while Abdel Latif's wife was unavailable at time of press.

[AhmedBahgat]

Admin court to decide on Quranist's case on July 31

By Ethar Shalaby
First Published: July 5, 2007

CAIRO: The administrative court has postponed till July 31the appeal hearing of detained members of the Quranist movement.

Adel Ramadan, the lawyer representing the detainees in the case, told The Daily Star Egypt that on May 29, national security forces had broken into the homes of four members of the Quranist movement at about 2 am and detained them without clear charges. Two days later, another member was arrested.

According to Ramadan, the Quranists are a group of Muslims who believe that the Quran should be the only frame of reference in Islam, dismissing large parts of the sunnah (actions and sayings) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

"They do not believe in what is called �??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�???????sunna motwaheda�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¢ which refers to the sayings of the Prophet that have been transmitted through only one source, as opposed to a whole circle of sources. They believe such hadiths [sayings] lack credibility and are full of mistakes,�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�� said Ramadan.

He continued that they believe in only in hadiths which have been confirmed by many sources.

But their belief that the Quran is a holy book protected by God, as opposed to the sunna which might have been wrongly narrated is the most controversial of their claims, Ramadan said.

The Quranists are charged with "contempt for religion," according to Article 98 of the penal code, which warrants a five-year prison sentence.

He said there have been many legal procedures taken in the issue. The minister of interior decided on their political arrest, while the national security prosecution decided on their temporary detainment.

"There is a double legal situation. We requested an appeal on the decision taken by the national security prosecution, but their lawyer rejected our appeal, but this is an illegal procedure, according to the latest amendments to the constitution that allows any detained person to appeal his case," said Ramadan.

The Quranists spread their ideas through a website called "Ahl El Quran". Ahmed Mansour, a former professor at Al-Azhar University who is currently a refugee in the United States, was the first to adopt the ideas of the movement in the 1980s, but no legal procedure was taken against him.

But when Mansour�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¢s brother Abdel Latif, began republishing his work, he was detained and accused of spreading false ideas about Islam.

Mahmoud Dahmash, the brother of 30-year-old Ahmed Dahmash, one of the other detainees in the case, said they should not have been detained for a crime that the court had not yet ruled one.

"If the police is suspicious of something, why should they arrest people in the middle of the night before investigating?" Mahmoud Dahmash told The Daily Star Egypt.

He insisted that his brother did not belong to any religious groups or work on spreading any false ideas, but that he only happens to be a friend of Abdel Latif Mohamed Mansour, the main detainee in the case.

"The lawyer told us that Ahmed is accused of contempt for religion, but I think they arrested him because of his friend. When they arrested him in the middle of the night, they confiscated most of his books and personal documents," said Dahmash.

Relatives of other members refused to comment on the case, while Abdel Latif's wife was unavailable at time of press.

[AhmedBahgat]

Another Quaranist added to list charged with contempt for religion

By Passant Rabie
First Published: June 26, 2007

CAIRO: The Egyptian government continued its series of arrests of members of the Quranist movement in Egypt as Ahmed Sobhy Mansour, leader of Ahl Al-Quran group, currently taking refuge in the United States, was added to the list of Quranists charged with contempt for religion, the press reported.

The movement is a non-political one whose members believe that Muslims should rely solely on the Quran as a frame of reference, as it is the most reliable source that comes straight from God, and not follow Prophet Mohammed�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¢s (PBUH) sunnah (example revealed in his sayings).

But these ideas are not popular within religious circles.

"There is no such thing as Quranists in Islam. Whoever denies the sunnah is an infidel," Sheikh Mahmoud Ashour, former deputy of Al-Azhar and member of the Islamic Research Center told The Daily Star Egypt. "The sunnah is a fundamental aspect of Islam."

According to Ahl Al-Quran's website, the group is "committed to spreading a vision of Islam that is true to the letter and spirit of the Quran and that focuses on the consistency between the word of God and democracy and human rights."

Other alleged members of the Quranist movement include Ahmed Dahmash, Abdel Hamid Abdel Rahman, Ahmed Sayed, Adellatif Mohamed Saied and Amr Tharwat a researcher at Ibn Khaldoun Center for Development Studies (ICDS).

"Tharwat is an employee at the center who works in programs and information, and he's been accused of something that we have no idea about," said Ahmed Rezk, a businessman and member of the board of trustees at ICDS. "We've hired lawyers in order to figure out if the case has something to do with the center itself."

Hossam Bahgat, president of Egyptian Initiative of Personal Rights, said that it is still too soon to figure out if the trial is a violation of human rights because they have not been charged yet.

The organization sent a lawyer to attend the court sessions in order to note any type of violation, he added.

"The questions being asked are solely based on the detainees' personal belief system, which proves that they have been captured because of their religious ideas," said Bahgat. He added that this violates the Egyptian constitution and a host of other laws and regulations.

Most of these cases are inspired by the emergency law, which gives the government free reign to arrest anyone it deems a threat to national security, said lawyer Ahmed Sayed.

"Civilians are arrested and their homes are broken into despite the false charges. Most cases don't even reach the courts but instead the charges are renewed and they issue arrest warrants without a case," added Sayed.

The public prosecutor�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¢s office could not be reached for comment.

[AhmedBahgat]

Another Quaranist added to list charged with contempt for religion

By Passant Rabie
First Published: June 26, 2007

CAIRO: The Egyptian government continued its series of arrests of members of the Quranist movement in Egypt as Ahmed Sobhy Mansour, leader of Ahl Al-Quran group, currently taking refuge in the United States, was added to the list of Quranists charged with contempt for religion, the press reported.

The movement is a non-political one whose members believe that Muslims should rely solely on the Quran as a frame of reference, as it is the most reliable source that comes straight from God, and not follow Prophet Mohammed�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¢s (PBUH) sunnah (example revealed in his sayings).

But these ideas are not popular within religious circles.

"There is no such thing as Quranists in Islam. Whoever denies the sunnah is an infidel," Sheikh Mahmoud Ashour, former deputy of Al-Azhar and member of the Islamic Research Center told The Daily Star Egypt. "The sunnah is a fundamental aspect of Islam."

According to Ahl Al-Quran's website, the group is "committed to spreading a vision of Islam that is true to the letter and spirit of the Quran and that focuses on the consistency between the word of God and democracy and human rights."

Other alleged members of the Quranist movement include Ahmed Dahmash, Abdel Hamid Abdel Rahman, Ahmed Sayed, Adellatif Mohamed Saied and Amr Tharwat a researcher at Ibn Khaldoun Center for Development Studies (ICDS).

"Tharwat is an employee at the center who works in programs and information, and he's been accused of something that we have no idea about," said Ahmed Rezk, a businessman and member of the board of trustees at ICDS. "We've hired lawyers in order to figure out if the case has something to do with the center itself."

Hossam Bahgat, president of Egyptian Initiative of Personal Rights, said that it is still too soon to figure out if the trial is a violation of human rights because they have not been charged yet.

The organization sent a lawyer to attend the court sessions in order to note any type of violation, he added.

"The questions being asked are solely based on the detainees' personal belief system, which proves that they have been captured because of their religious ideas," said Bahgat. He added that this violates the Egyptian constitution and a host of other laws and regulations.

Most of these cases are inspired by the emergency law, which gives the government free reign to arrest anyone it deems a threat to national security, said lawyer Ahmed Sayed.

"Civilians are arrested and their homes are broken into despite the false charges. Most cases don't even reach the courts but instead the charges are renewed and they issue arrest warrants without a case," added Sayed.

The public prosecutor�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¢s office could not be reached for comment.

[AhmedBahgat]

Letter to the Editor

By Ibn Khaldoun Center
First Published: June 19, 2007

Dear Editor,

The Egyptian authorities continue to deny the arrests of Abdelatif Said, Ahmed Dahmash, and Abdel Hamid Abdel Rahman from their home in Shubra, along with the arrests of their relatives Amr Tharwat and Ahmed Elsayed from the home of Dr. Ahmed Sobhy in Matareya the night of May 30, 2007.

Assumptions have been made that these men are members of the Quranist movement, although for some of these men there has been no proof or evidence of this fact. Amr Tharwat was singled out in a recent article in The Daily Star Egypt [�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�???????Researcher in Ibn Khaldoun Center still missing, June 13, 2007], in which there is nothing official linking him to the Quranists other than being a family member. Because he is an employee of Ibn Khaldun, allegations are being made as to the �??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�???????real reasons behind this action,�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�� which only hurt Amr and the others who have been detained.

Considering there is no official statement in regards to these men�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¢s whereabouts, the facts need to be stated. The Egyptian National Security has invaded the house of Abdelatif Said and both of Dr. Ahmed Sobhy�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¢s homes in Matareya and Sharkia, not only detaining people, but confiscating many of their belongings including laptops, flash drives, and books. The lawyers have gone to the General Attorney and the Prosecutor�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¢s Office, to only come in counter with the confusion that exists due to the lack of proper communication between the members of the justice ministry.

Five men have been held for close to 20 days and the Egyptian National Security continues to deny this detainment and blatant disregard for human rights, as their immunity reaches far and beyond the power of the judicial branch in Egypt. These arrests demonstrate the �??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�???????zero-tolerance�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�� policy of the so-called secular Egyptian government in regards to any perspective, political or religious, that questions the current state of affairs..

[AhmedBahgat]

Letter to the Editor

By Ibn Khaldoun Center
First Published: June 19, 2007

Dear Editor,

The Egyptian authorities continue to deny the arrests of Abdelatif Said, Ahmed Dahmash, and Abdel Hamid Abdel Rahman from their home in Shubra, along with the arrests of their relatives Amr Tharwat and Ahmed Elsayed from the home of Dr. Ahmed Sobhy in Matareya the night of May 30, 2007.

Assumptions have been made that these men are members of the Quranist movement, although for some of these men there has been no proof or evidence of this fact. Amr Tharwat was singled out in a recent article in The Daily Star Egypt [�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�???????Researcher in Ibn Khaldoun Center still missing, June 13, 2007], in which there is nothing official linking him to the Quranists other than being a family member. Because he is an employee of Ibn Khaldun, allegations are being made as to the �??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�???????real reasons behind this action,�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�� which only hurt Amr and the others who have been detained.

Considering there is no official statement in regards to these men�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¢s whereabouts, the facts need to be stated. The Egyptian National Security has invaded the house of Abdelatif Said and both of Dr. Ahmed Sobhy�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¢s homes in Matareya and Sharkia, not only detaining people, but confiscating many of their belongings including laptops, flash drives, and books. The lawyers have gone to the General Attorney and the Prosecutor�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¢s Office, to only come in counter with the confusion that exists due to the lack of proper communication between the members of the justice ministry.

Five men have been held for close to 20 days and the Egyptian National Security continues to deny this detainment and blatant disregard for human rights, as their immunity reaches far and beyond the power of the judicial branch in Egypt. These arrests demonstrate the �??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�???????zero-tolerance�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�¢�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�¬�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�� policy of the so-called secular Egyptian government in regards to any perspective, political or religious, that questions the current state of affairs..

[AhmedBahgat]

Here is their web site, most of their ideas are great indeed:

[AhmedBahgat]

Here is their web site, most of their ideas are great indeed:

[mehchap]

Hi�?�¦ that was great stuff.. I really like this subject.

[BMZ]

[BMZ]

[quranvshadith]