Ayman Nour

Ayman Abd El-Aziz Nour () is an Egyptian politician, a member of that country's Parliament and chairman of the al-Ghad party ("Tomorrow Party"). He became famous around the world following his October 2004 imprisonment by the government of President Hosni Mubarak, which was widely understood as a politically motivated move by the state and caused a lot of internal anger as well as foreign pressure for his release.

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Formation of el-Ghad

The el-Ghad party was formally recognized by the Egyptian government on October 27, 2004. Following its creation, Nour was elected president of the party at its first convention a few days later. His prominence as an independent MP made him the star of the party and one of the driving forces behind its organization. Nour fought hard to get the party recognized; its application was rejected five times before official status was finally granted.

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The party was created to represent a liberal democratic perspective, with a strong interest in human rights issues. Nour used the party as a platform to call for constitutional reform, limiting the president's powers and opening presidential elections to multiple candidates.

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Arrest and imprisonment

Nour was stripped of his parliamentary immunity and arrested on January 29, 2005. He was charged with forging documents to secure the formation of the el-Ghad party. Nour vehemently denied the charges (from prison).

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The arrest, occurring in an election year, was widely criticized by governments around the world as a step backwards for Egyptian democracy. Few seem to regard the charges as legitimate.Nour remained active despite his imprisonment, using the opportunity to write critical articles and make his case and cause better known.

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Presidential Elections

Ironically, despite his imprisonment, the government announced the following month that it would open elections to multiple candidates.

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On March 12, 2005, he was released on bail, a week after he announced (from jail) his decision to run for president. He was the first runner-up in the 2005 presidential election with 8% of the vote according to government figures and estimated at 30% by independent observers, although no independent observers were allowed to monitor the elections.

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Parliament: :This article is about the legislative institution. For alternative meanings, see: Parliament (disambiguation)....

Al-Ghad: REdireCT Tomorrow Party...

October 2004: __NOTOC__...