Berlin on October 5, 2023
Law and Democracy Support Foundation monitored the continuation of the violations that witnessed the stage of collecting endorsements during the past three days, which consisted of continuing to prevent the issuance of endorsements in favor of the candidate Tantawi, while this process was facilitated in favor of the current president, and mobilizing state institutions to serve his candidacy and the foundation recorded cases of procrastination by employees of Notaries offices to disrupt the procedures of endorsements for supporters of the candidate Tantawi. As well as cases of destruction of personal identity cards and legal documents of citizens in order to restrict their democratic rights.
It also monitored cases of threats and physical violence to prevent citizens from issuing endorsements for the potential candidate Ahmed El-Tantawi, and in other cases forcing them to issue endorsements for Sisi after police threats.
As well as pressure on state employees or beneficiaries of some of its initiatives and forcing them to issue endorsements for Sisi.
Supporters of the current president were also gathered and mobilized from the Future Nation Party to prevent supporters of the potential candidate from reaching Notaries offices.
And also refusing to hand over the original endorsement and handing over photocopies only in some cases.
It is worth noting that the campaign of candidate Ahmed El-Tantawi submitted a request today to the National Elections Authority to investigate the electoral violations and violations committed by the rival candidate “the current president” and the loyal and supportive parties. These violations include exploiting state institutions in electoral propaganda and announcing candidacy through a conference for the Egyptian state in the presence of ministers, heads of bodies and councils. This campaign witnessed unprecedented media coverage from state-owned media institutions in a biased manner, in addition to spending huge amounts of money that exceeded the limits of spending on propaganda.
Yesterday, the potential candidate Jamila Ismail issued a statement announcing the cancellation of her visit to parliament after the approval of the General Secretariat on her request to visit parliament consult with deputies, and present an outline of her electoral program. However, restrictions were imposed on the visit that emptied it of its content.
The authorities have allocated a separate hall for the visit, Jamila considered that a form of curfew and prevented achieving the purpose of the visit, which was meeting members of parliament and convincing them to support her candidacy for the upcoming elections.
Two days after announcing his candidacy for presidential elections, current president Sisi issued a decree amending the composition of the National Elections Authority. The decision included appointing Counselor Hazem Badawi, Deputy President of the Court of Cassation, as a new member in the board of the authority. In addition to replacing a number of other advisers in forming the new board for the National Elections Authority, based on the constitution and law establishing the National Elections Authority, due to their expiration.
1-In Tanta City in Gharbia Governorate, employees of Al-Hamayat Notary’s office prevented the issuance of endorsements in favor of the candidate Tantawi, while the process of issuing endorsements for the current president was facilitated. A case of burning a citizen’s identity card was also recorded after deliberately destroying its code, and he was informed that his national number card was invalid.
In Mohandsen Notary’s office on Syria Street, cases of discrimination and lack of neutrality were monitored by employees of Notary’s Office against Tantawi’s supporters.
2-In 6th of October City, the employees of Notary’s office prevented eight citizens from issuing endorsements in favor of the candidate Tantawi and threatened one of the citizens with imprisonment.
3-In the 10th of Ramadan City in Sharkia Governorate, employees of Notary’s office prevented supporters of the candidate Tantawi from issuing endorsements and threatened one of the citizens with imprisonment if she did not delete the videos she filmed inside the office.
4-In Notary’s office of Zagazig City in Sharkia Governorate, members of the Future of Nation “Mostkbl watan” Party attacked Tantawi and prevented him from entering the Notary’s office.
5-In Rehab City, thugs took over Notary’s office closed the main gate prevented citizens from entering, and used violence and insults.
6-In Notary’s office of Qasr El Nil on Qasr El Aini Street in Cairo, it witnessed delay and disruption in issuing presidential endorsements, and the office was closed before the end of official working hours in violation of the decisions of the National Elections Authority.
7-In Al-Hamoul Notary’s office in Kafr El-Sheikh and Al-Khosous Notary’s office in Qalyubia, complaints were recorded by citizens, that they were given copies instead of their original’s endorsements, in addition, police men in civilian clothes recorded the personal data of those citizens while they were issuing endorsements.
Outside Egypt, the Egyptian embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark refused to hand over one of the citizens an original endorsement issued by him, offering him a copy only. While the Egyptian embassy in Doha obstructed supporters of Tantawi on the pretext of repairing internet cables.
