Interview with Philip Rizk

Today is Philip Rizk's 27th birthday. Before celebrating with family and friends, he met with journalists to describe his four days in Egyptian detainment.

The full transcription of the interview can be found here.

He was threatened with torture, and informed that if he “continue[d] on this track” (his activism in regards to Gaza, assumedly) he would be “visiting [his interrogators] quite often.”

However, Rizk maintains that this is an insufficient reason to cease acting on behalf of Gaza: “I always knew there was the risk living in Egypt . . . to be involved in these kind of activities,” he said. “So you know there's a risk if you speak out too much; you know there's a risk.”

C.S. Lewis once claimed that those who would make peace in non-violent ways (the so-called "pacifists" of the world) were ultimately cowards at heart. I must humbly (but passionately) disagree. If it's courage that we need, I want the courage, not to point a gun at my enemy (or my friend's enemy), but to suffer at thier hands, and still speak on behalf of justice. To risk recrimination, to risk violence and suffering, and to never be silenced. I want the courage of Jesus, and Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

And yes, I want the courage of Philip Rizk.

The Release of Philip Rizk

Philip Rizk has been released.

While this is wonderful news, he asks that focus remain on ending the struggle in Gaza, and that all protests continue as planned.

Two other pro-Gaza detainees were sentenced yesterday to a year in prison.

The struggle isn't over.

Petition for the Release of Philip Rizk

Add your name to the petition to release Philip Rizk. It's a VERY easy process. Click on the link, click "sign the petition," add your name, and you're done.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/release-philip-rizk.html

Here's what you're signing:

To His Excellency President Hosni Mubarak,

On February 6, 2009, Philip Rizk, a German-Egyptian activist and a graduate student at the American University in Cairo, was arrested north of 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.

Philip Rizk 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.

Petition:

Please join us in protesting Egypt’s repressive practices and preventing further detention of Philip Rizk.

We, the undersigned,

- 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;

- Call for the end to harsh treatment and lack of due process to political detainees in Egypt.

Philip Rizk, Journalist and Activist, Abducted

At 8:00pm on Friday, February 6th, Philip Rizk, a German-Egyptian graduate student, activist, and blogger (Tabula Gaza), was abducted by Egyptian national security. Fourteen others were detained; all but Philip have been released.

Philip was taken while participating in a solidarity march for Gaza. His blog reads:

In commemoration of the breaching of the Rafah border between Gaza and Egypt one year ago on January 23rd, 2008 the Egyptian Popular Committee in Solidarity with The Palestinian People is calling for a MARCH TO GAZA.

On December 27th, 2008 Israel started a horrific bloodbath in Gaza eventually killing almost 1500 Palestinians, including 410 children and injuring thousands. Israel’s ensuing military onslaught destroyed homes, schools, places of worship, and essential infrastructure leading to a humanitarian catastrophe. These attacks are exacerbated by Israel’s ongoing siege, which leaves the Palestinian people in Gaza prisoners within Israeli created borders and dependent on the trickle of supplies that its occupier allows in.

The Call:
End the Siege on Gaza.

The Vision:
We hope for the call to spread organically, to look different in different places around the world. Whether a defined distance is walked, a specific number of people participate or the march is carried out individually, whether calling for boycott or trying Israel for war crimes we are hoping that such efforts will pick up momentum and increase.

Though the immediate Israeli military onslaught on Gaza- for the time being- has come to a standstill this is not a solution. Let us seize this time of urgency to act and call for an end to siege on Gaza. Though our respective governments reject expressing our resistance to the status quo we- the multitude- must move to the streets, as a collective global expression in condemnation of Israel’s actions.

The Egypt group will march on Gaza from multiple locations starting February 6th.

Follow all events at: www.togaza.net.

Security originally denied having arrested Philip. They have now confirmed that he is being held, but refuse to comment on his whereabouts or status.

His family has started a facebook group to raise awareness and gather support: Support and Prayer for the Safe Release of Philip Rizk. Join your voice to theirs.