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U.N. Climate Summit Leads to a Rarity in Egypt: Open Protest U.N. Climate Summit Leads to a Rarity in Egypt: Open Protest
(about 2 hours later)
SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt — Hundreds of activists held a loud, midday demonstration at the United Nations climate summit on Saturday, a tiny number compared with protests at past summits held in other countries, but an extraordinary showing in Egypt, where dissent is suppressed. SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt — Hundreds of activists held a loud, midday demonstration at the United Nations climate summit on Saturday. It was a tiny number compared with protests at past summits held in other countries, but an extraordinary showing in Egypt, where dissent is suppressed.
The protest, in which activists called on wealthy, industrialized nations to compensate developing countries for climate disasters, marked the largest demonstration yet during the two-week gathering of ministers, diplomats and leaders from nearly 200 countries.The protest, in which activists called on wealthy, industrialized nations to compensate developing countries for climate disasters, marked the largest demonstration yet during the two-week gathering of ministers, diplomats and leaders from nearly 200 countries.
Large-scale marches, sit-ins and rallies are typical at the annual U.N. climate talks, including the ones last year in Glasgow, where tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets.Large-scale marches, sit-ins and rallies are typical at the annual U.N. climate talks, including the ones last year in Glasgow, where tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets.
But in Egypt, where President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s government has banned demonstrations, the protest stood out.But in Egypt, where President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s government has banned demonstrations, the protest stood out.
Demonstrators were concerned not just with climate but also with the fate of Alaa Abd El Fattah, Egypt’s most prominent political prisoner. Mr. Abd El Fattah is an activist and software developer who has been imprisoned for most of the past nine years for his condemnations of Egypt’s authoritarian government.Demonstrators were concerned not just with climate but also with the fate of Alaa Abd El Fattah, Egypt’s most prominent political prisoner. Mr. Abd El Fattah is an activist and software developer who has been imprisoned for most of the past nine years for his condemnations of Egypt’s authoritarian government.
Mr. Abd El Fattah has been on a hunger strike since April. On Sunday, as 40,000 people descended on this Red Sea resort town for the opening of the climate conference, he began refusing water. His sister, Sanaa Seif, said this week that her family feared he was being force-fed in prison.Mr. Abd El Fattah has been on a hunger strike since April. On Sunday, as 40,000 people descended on this Red Sea resort town for the opening of the climate conference, he began refusing water. His sister, Sanaa Seif, said this week that her family feared he was being force-fed in prison.
Saturday’s demonstration took place in an outdoor courtyard within the sprawling complex that is housing the convention. The area was under the purview of the United Nations, not the Egyptian government. The general public had no access to the space; anyone there, including protesters, needed accreditation from the United Nations. Egyptian government security officers were visible at the venue and were seen taking videos of the protests.Saturday’s demonstration took place in an outdoor courtyard within the sprawling complex that is housing the convention. The area was under the purview of the United Nations, not the Egyptian government. The general public had no access to the space; anyone there, including protesters, needed accreditation from the United Nations. Egyptian government security officers were visible at the venue and were seen taking videos of the protests.
“We are not able to march freely on the streets in this country,” said Asad Rehman, an activist from London wearing a “Free Alaa” T-shirt. “What we can speak out here, we can’t speak out loud outside of the walls of this conference, and that is part of our struggle.”“We are not able to march freely on the streets in this country,” said Asad Rehman, an activist from London wearing a “Free Alaa” T-shirt. “What we can speak out here, we can’t speak out loud outside of the walls of this conference, and that is part of our struggle.”
He said that he and the others were standing in for activists who could not be there because of security concerns or because they were behind bars.He said that he and the others were standing in for activists who could not be there because of security concerns or because they were behind bars.
International pressure has increased on Egypt to release Mr. Abd El Fattah, with the leaders of the United States, Britain, France and Germany all trying to secure his release in one-on-one meetings with Mr. el-Sisi.International pressure has increased on Egypt to release Mr. Abd El Fattah, with the leaders of the United States, Britain, France and Germany all trying to secure his release in one-on-one meetings with Mr. el-Sisi.
President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said on Friday that Mr. Biden had intensive consultations with Mr. el-Sisi about Mr. Abd El Fattah when Mr. Biden appeared at the climate talks that day.President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said on Friday that Mr. Biden had intensive consultations with Mr. el-Sisi about Mr. Abd El Fattah when Mr. Biden appeared at the climate talks that day.
At the rally on Saturday, protesters held signs that said, “We have not been defeated,” a nod to Mr. Abd El Fattah’s book, “You Have Not Yet Been Defeated,” and made speeches about how human rights were crucial to confronting climate challenges. Other speeches focused on climate reparations, a major discussion at this year’s conference.At the rally on Saturday, protesters held signs that said, “We have not been defeated,” a nod to Mr. Abd El Fattah’s book, “You Have Not Yet Been Defeated,” and made speeches about how human rights were crucial to confronting climate challenges. Other speeches focused on climate reparations, a major discussion at this year’s conference.
As protesters chanted, “Free them all,” a reference to the thousands of political prisoners behind bars in Egypt, Quito Ziegler, a demonstrator from New York, noted that the activists had been crowded into a small space within the COP27 venue with police officers all around.As protesters chanted, “Free them all,” a reference to the thousands of political prisoners behind bars in Egypt, Quito Ziegler, a demonstrator from New York, noted that the activists had been crowded into a small space within the COP27 venue with police officers all around.
“It’s a very symbolic protest of people who were privileged enough to get badges in order to be able to protest,” said Mx. Ziegler, a professor at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. “But it’s also remarkable, because right here, in this small space, you have representatives from probably every country on Earth.”“It’s a very symbolic protest of people who were privileged enough to get badges in order to be able to protest,” said Mx. Ziegler, a professor at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. “But it’s also remarkable, because right here, in this small space, you have representatives from probably every country on Earth.”
Philip Kilonzo, an activist at the protest who is based in Nairobi, said the conference so far had gone woefully in the wrong direction.Philip Kilonzo, an activist at the protest who is based in Nairobi, said the conference so far had gone woefully in the wrong direction.
“The Northern countries are beginning to run away from liability,” Mr. Kilonzo, the head of policy for the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, said, referring to reluctance from some countries in the Global North to allocate funds to poorer countries that have been most impacted by global warming. “There is general acknowledgment that the world is changing in terms of climate, but then there is a deviation in terms of commitment.”“The Northern countries are beginning to run away from liability,” Mr. Kilonzo, the head of policy for the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, said, referring to reluctance from some countries in the Global North to allocate funds to poorer countries that have been most impacted by global warming. “There is general acknowledgment that the world is changing in terms of climate, but then there is a deviation in terms of commitment.”
Somini Sengupta contributed reporting from Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.Somini Sengupta contributed reporting from Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.