I wrote a week ago that security and safety will be achieved when the law is applied to all, not after thuggery, harassment and kidnappings are eliminated. Without security and safety there will be no investment. We do not need new laws. We just need to apply the existing laws.
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After the economic conference of Sharm el-Sheikh and the opening of the new Suez Canal to which the whole world was invited to see what the Egyptians achieved, I was surprised last Thursday by the decision to seize the Brotherhood's funds. I may support the decision as a precautionary measure, but it must be based on thorough investigations conducted by more than just the security agencies so that it is not suspected of being in violation of the law. The seizing of funds or the banning of people from travel are in fact penalties if not based on proper investigations.
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A victim of this is Safwan Thabet, a businessman who persuaded the largest producer of dairy products, a Danish-Swedish company, to invest in Egypt and export the goods to the world so as to bring in hard currency. Trade Minister Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, Investment Minister Ashraf Salman and International Cooperation Minister Nagla al-Ahwani were present at the signing of the contract.
In other words, the government that blesses his business is the same that seizes his funds without investigation or notification. It is true that Thabet’s grandfather was Al-Hudeiby, a leading Brotherhood figure. Is this his fault?
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The Sharm el-Sheikh conference, the opening of the new canal and the trips of the President and the ministers are all attempts to attract investments. Yet last Thursday’s decision is going in the opposite direction. It is destroying the security and safety sought by any investor. The world is watching us. How can we jail people without judicial procedure or keep them in custody for too long, regardless of who they are, be they even Alaa and Gamal Mubarak?
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
