Egyptian intellectuals question Minister’s eligibility for UNESCO post

Egyptian intellectuals and politicians regarded that Egypt’s Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni”s engagement in security and intelligence services during his work in the Egyptian Cultural Center in Paris in the seventies against dozens of Egyptian expatriates and scientific missionaries fleeing from the rule of the late President Anwar Sadat as a reason to discredit his candidacy and eligibility for the post of UNESCO director-general. This is the only institution authorized to promote freedom of expression in the cultural, educational and scientific fields.
 
They justified their disagreement for Hosni”s Nomination for this international high-profile post where they perceive he doesn’t quite qualify due to his dire professional and political history. This is in light of what had been disclosed years ago where he engaged in intelligence activities during his work in the French capital.

Egyptian intellectuals demonstrated their dissent for the recommendation and are intending to send a note to the UNESCO requesting not to accept his nomination for this remarkable post.
 
Dr. Hossam Issa, a renowned academic and Deputy Head of the Nasserist Party, is at the top of the list of those who have expressed their refusal for the nomination of the minister referring to his former controversial attitudes including operations involving acts of espionage against Egyptians in France. He believed that his engagement in security activities against intellectuals who opposed the regime automatically titled him as an informant and that in itself challenges the eligibility and legitimacy of the candidate for this prestigious position.
 
Issa expressed concern that in the case of Farouk Hosni assuming the post of Director-General of UNESCO because of shameful deeds will be a disgrace to humanity. Dr. Abdullah Al Ashaal, Professor of international law at the American University in Cairo and former assistant to Egyptian foreign minister concurred with him adding that Hosni is unqualified for assuming duties of this international and distinguished post .He speculated on it running smoothly if this former informer for the security intelligence who presented reports about the intellectuals, diplomatic missions and politicians be trusted in such a high-profile position. Is there no other person qualified enough to take this UNESCO post in Egypt?
 
Al-ashal regarded Hosni”s nomination for this post while he recognized that he was involved in security activities reflected a decline in the role of the Egyptian state and failure of the regime. He, however, thinks that it is consistent with the regime’s policy as they assign the high profile positions to those who are described as security agents at home.  Most of the current and former Egyptian officials who were engaged in such deeds are awarded for these shameful acts.

Egypt’s Minister of Culture’s nomination for the post of UNESCO director-general has raised wide controversy and sharp debates inside the circles of the Egyptian intellectuals who plan to file a memorandum to the international organization, the international human rights organizations and all United Nation bodies. Hosni’s former operations with the security services involved acts of espionage against the intellectuals and the scientific missionaries abroad are incompatible with his candidacy for a new role as a sponsor for the international efforts of the culture, education and protection of the fundamental rights relating to the protection of students and intellectuals. The UNESCO attempts are primarily dedicated to end all violations committed against them due to their political background.
 
In the same context, the renowned thinker Dr. Rafik Habib hailed the accomplishments of the Egyptian intellectuals and described them as remarkable reflecting the national conscience of those who do not accept any tarnishing of the image of their country. The nomination of a person who gave security reports about the regime’s opponents described as acts for the benefit of the ruling regime hardly deserves to be rewarded for these shameful acts.
 
The professional biography of a person is the main factor which commends him for such prestigious positions. How can a person accused of engaging in operations of crackdowns against the intellectuals and making his country”s honor his own aim if he is nominated for the post? UNESCO’s regulations itself prohibits those who are a disgrace to humanity from taking post of UNESCO director-general.