Denver, CO, Feb. 15-The American Sociological Association co-sponsored a special reception with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) honoring Saad Eddin Ibrahim at the AAAS annual meeting. ASA's Harriet Presser represented ASA at the event and made brief remarks, which can be found at the AAAS website.

Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 4-In an intensive day of legal argument at the High Court of Justice in Cairo, defense lawyers refuted the case brought against renowned social activist and sociologist Saad Eddin Ibrahim and his four co-defendants. Ibrahim and three co-defendants were present at the hearing. The Court of Cassation announced that it would return on March 18, 2003, with its verdict. According to a Feb. 6-12 article in Al Ahram Weekly, the 64-year-old Ibrahim is optimistic about the verdict.

Ibrahim was released from a Cairo prison on December 3, 2002, upon a ruling by Egypt's highest appeals court. Not providing an explanation, the court ordered a retrial for the Egyptian-American sociologist. This recent ruling overturned his July conviction for his writings on democracy and human rights and resulted in his being released. The retrial was Ibrahim's third trial on these charges. At the March hearing the court will declare its final verdict to which there can be no further judicial appeal.

• ASA and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) co-hosted a special reception honoring Ibrahim on Saturday, February 15, at the annual AAAS meeting in Denver, CO. His daughter presented remarks at the reception. ASA's Harriet Presser represented ASA at the event and made brief remarks. (See AAAS for a copy of her remarks.)
  
• ASA was at the forefront of national efforts to generate publicity about Saad Ibrahim and spur his release from jail after his resentencing in the summer of 2002. ASA prepared a formal response to Egyptian officials and provided critical information to ASA members about the case in order to allow them to take action to protest the incarceration of Egyptian-American sociologist Saad Eddin Ibrahim, who was unjustly sentenced to prison on July 29, 2002. ASA sent its formal letter to Egyptian leadership, urging the release of Ibrahim and coordinated a letter-writing effort by the sociological community to pressure the leadership and judicial system to "do the right thing." Read ASA's August press release for more details.
  
• Visit the AAAS Human Rights Action Network to see the most recent Action Alert on Dr. Ibrahim (March 18, 2003)
  
• National Academies Ask for Release of Sociologist. Read the letter. (August 1, 2002)

• The Chronicle of Higher Education, "Egypt's Highest Court Rejects Charges Against Scholar," March 19, 2003
  
• The Washington Post, "Egyptian Court Acquits Activist: Professor Was Accused of Defamation; U.S. Lauds Decision," March 19, 2003
  
• The Associated Press, "Egyptian-American Rights Activist Acquitted," March 18, 2003
  
• The Washington Post, "Egypt Frees Sociologist," Dec. 4, 2002
  
• The Associated Press, "Cairo Court Frees Rights Activist," Dec. 3, 2002
  
• Chronicle of Higher Education, "Egyptian Court Again Convicts Scholar of Undermining the Dignity of the State," by Daniel Del Castello, July 30, 2002
  
• United Press International, "Egyptian American gets seven years," by Paul Schemm, July 29, 2002
  
• Associated Press, "Egyptian Academic Convicted Again," by Nadia Abou El Magd, July 29, 2002
  

• Dr. Ibrahim's statement before the court on May 21, 2001, two hours before his sentencing. Read Statement (May 2001)

• Sociology Human Rights Cases: Sociologist Released in Egypt. Read story in Footnotes newsletter. (March 2002)
• ASA resolution urges U.S. State Department to take vigorous stand on behalf of scholars. (August 2001) Read press release.
• ASA denounces Egypt's sentencing of Dr. Ibrahim, questioning whether it is legal under international law. Read Letter to Egyptian Officials. (May 2001)
• ASA News Release concerning Egypt's sentencing of Dr. Ibrahim. (May 2001)
• ASA Executive Officer's newsletter column: Speaking Out for Human Rights" in Footnotes. (April 2001)
• ASA questions Egypt's arrest of Dr. Ibrahim on June 30, 2000. Read letter (July 2000)