(Photo Public Domain)
Mohamed ElBaradei, Vice President of Foreign Afairs, Ziad Bahaa El-Din, Deputy Prime Minister of Economic Affairs and Hamdeen Sabahy, founder of Al Tayar Al Sha’aby, commented on Arabs seeking refuge in Egypt on Saturday.
On a statement on his Facebook account Bahaa El-Din said: “If we’re convinced that Egypt is the heart of pan-Arabism, then we need to know that it’s just not fancy rhetoric, but a national responsibility in every sense of the word.”
Bahaa El-Din said that part of that responsibility is welcoming all Arab citizens at anytime and giving them safety and refuge during their difficult circumstances.
He added that if Palestinians, Syrians or other refugees take up arms illegally inside of Egypt, they would be prosecuted accordingly to the law.
“However, for the matter to transform into distrust of every Palestinian or Syrian that has come to us, regardless if they’re students, businessmen, or refugees from countries with harsh conditions, is not befitting for us as pan-Arab Egypt,” Bahaa El-Din said.
Bahaa El-Din said that it is the responsibility of the people to prevent the Palestinian, Syrian or Sudanese causes from becoming victims of Egypt’s ongoing political conflicts.
“I wrote this statement in response to the hostility that’s widespread in the media and the general public against our Arab brothers, especially from Syria and Palestine, as if they’re all Jihadists that have come to Egypt to bear arms and terrorize citizens and support a specific political movement,” Bahaa El-Din said.
Sabahy said on Twitter: “Egypt is the beating heart of the Arab nation and the home that accommodates all Arabs… This is our duty and this is our message.”
ElBaradei meanwhile offered a welcome. “To every Arab in Egypt: Hello and welcome honored guest at the heart of pan-Arabism,” his Twitter message read.
In a statement signed by Al Tayar Al Sha’aby and Sabahy, the group called for a statement from the current government detailing Egypt’s policies and responsibilities toward Palestinians as well as putting forth a plan that protects the rights of Palestinians in Egypt.
