Interviews with Ahmed Samih

So Saddam Hussein, one of the most popular “Arab leaders,” or “Arab dictators,” is coming out from a hole and some empty place directly to TV. That was a very important to– moment in our history. Because before that, we thought that those leaders are half-Gods. Or have unknown power that nobody can touch them.

Putting Saddam Hussein in a trial in front of TV, people can see his trial, was a very powerful message that– not only for the Iraqis, for all people who are Muslims or Arabs. That leaders can be [put on] trial. The only negative thing that the trial been– under occupation. But the concept passed directly to our back mine. Passed directly to our subconscious that– in [1990s] and [1980s], we saw Mubarak and Saddam Hussein are close friend. And talking to each other.

And if you saw someone like Saddam Hussein put in a trial, and you know that he made the crimes against his people, definitely you will think about your president. Definitely. And I hope that the Egyptian people will do the same thing. Which is putting Mubarak under a trial. Fair trial. And give a good accusation to the court. And then put him in jail. Which is– will be a very important message from the Egyptian people to the world. To the unfree world. That dictators can be trialed. They can go to jail too– at some point. Especially that when the people knows that they deserve it.

Ahmed has extensive experience as an organizer and trainer in international programs for human rights education. He has served as a media adviser and director of media observation in a national campaign for monitoring elections in Egypt sponsored by USAID. He has also been a trainer for projects sponsored by the Norwegian Human Rights Fund, such as Supporting NGOs and Right to Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion and Combating Propaganda for War. He is the founder of various organizations: Liberal Youth Seminar sponsored by New Civic Forum, Knowledge Club, and Free Youth Association sponsored by Al JEEL Center for Youth and Social Studies. Currently, Ahmed is the Director of the Andalus Institute for Tolerance and Anti-Violence Studies and the director of EGYPT 1st online internet radio.