Media

20 February 2012

Blogger Maikel Nabil, Just Released from Egyptian Prison, to Headline Geneva Rights Summit on March 13th, 2012

MEDIA ADVISORY

MILLIONS JOINED 'FREE MAIKEL' TWITTER & FACEBOOK CAMPAIGN

Gathering Seen as Influential Complement to UN Human Rights Council Debate

GENEVA, Feb. 20 - A student blogger just released from Egyptian prison, made famous by the global campaign that mobilized on his behalf, and other top-name dissidents from Syria, Burma, Iran and China are expected to be among the biggest newsmakers at the 4th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, on March 13, 2012.

Maikel Nabil, a law student who became a key figure in Egypt's Tahrir Square revolution, was imprisoned for the crime of "insulting the Egyptian army" and condemn of 3 years imprisonment. Ten months later, on January 26, 2012, after a global "Free Maikel" campaign captured the support of millions on Facebook and Twitter, he was finally released. This will be Nabil's first major appearance after his release.

The widely acclaimed activists' summit takes place in Geneva as diplomats of the UN Human Rights Council meet nearby from Feb. 27 to Mar. 26, 2012.

For journalists, the parallel summit provides a one-stop opportunity to hear from and interview key frontline human rights advocates—many of whom have personally suffered imprisonment and torture.

The speakers’ compelling and vivid testimonies will, as in past years, stand in sharp contrast to the Council’s diplomatic haggling over draft resolutions and reports on human rights situations around the world­.

With Burma, Syria, Iran and China making human rights headlines, the parallel conference will hear directly from Burma’s “Little Daughter” author Zoya Phan; Syrian victim Hadeel Kouki,Iranian torture victim Ebrahim Mehtari; and former political prisoner and Tiananmen Square hero Ren Wanding of China.

French TV journalist Anne-Isabelle Tollet is set to reveal the latest developments in the campaign to win freedom for Asia Bibi, a mother-of-five who remains on death row in Pakistan for blasphemy.

Other speakers will address human rights situations in Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam and Zimbabwe, addressing themes of:

  • Discrimination against women
  • Freedom of speech
  • Internet freedom
  • Discrimination against religious minorities
  • Persecution of dissidents and human rights defenders
  • Honor killings

 Click here for a full lineup of the parallel summit’s speakers.

As in other years, the parallel summit will produce alternative draft resolutions for the Council to consider.

Past parallel summits have enjoyed widespread coverage by major wire services and newspapers, as well as television and radio news outlets. Videos of past speaker testimonies are available at www.genevasummit.org.

Admission to this year’s March 13 summit is free to the public and media, but registration is mandatory.

For accreditation, program and schedule information, visit www.genevasummit.org.

For interviews or more information, contact:

Arielle Herzog Hadida, Coordinator
secretariat@genevasummit.org

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