Here are excerpts from Droubi’s letter sent to the firm’s senior management in London, dated June 8, 2006:
I have been an employee of WorleyParsons Komex since January of this year. I have served as a field ecologist with the Cairo office. On April 24, I was detained by the Egyptian State Security police, and held for 33 days without appearing before a judge, and obviously without being convicted of any crime. I was arrested during a peaceful solidarity sit- in with Egyptian Judges outside the Judge’s Club in downtown Cairo, calling for the independence of the judicial branch of the state. This sit-in was organized by an Egyptian civil rights movement, known as Kefaya (Arabic for Enough). Kefaya is a movement that campaigns for democracy in Egypt, focusing on issues ranging from corruption, freedom of expression, torture, and free elections.
During the period of my detention I received two statements from the WorlyParsons Komex Cairo office: the first of these was delivered through my lawyer stating that if I was released before the end of May my job would be waiting for me.
The second statement came to me as a surprise; this statement was made by Mr. Mohamed Abdel Gawad, manager of the Cairo office on two separate occasions: to my lawyer and to my parents. They were told that the company requested my resignation–rather than dismissing me, as that would be more favorable on my record (and as it turns out according to my lawyer, it was to remove all liability from the company). …a resignation (was) awaiting my signature.
Two days after my release I returned to the office on May 29. I was told that my political activities were not looked upon highly by the office, and that the fact that I had not attended a month of work–despite the fact that official government documents explaining my detention were delivered to the office on two separate occasions by my lawyer. My refusal to submit my resignation was perceived as hostile and I was asked to leave the office.
Two days later I received an envelope containing four warnings concerning my absence in addition to a document containing a preliminary termination of employment. I returned to the office at the request of Mr. Abdel Gawad; at this point I requested my salary and the per diems for days traveled, for the month of April. Mr. Abdel Gawad refused to give me my money and asked the office staff to supervise me while collecting my personal items.
I have been considering and have been advised to pursue legal action against the company. It is a matter of principle. My consideration to pursue legal action; is due to my belief that the termination of my employment, was not based on professional reasons, but was rather a violation against my right to express myself, and participate actively in my society’s affairs.
An Arabic translation of Droubi’s letter could be found here.
Hossam,
I am thinking of asking readers to sent emails to Worley Parsons. What’s your take on that?
That’s a brilliant initiative indeed Big Pharaoh. I spoke with Droubi, and he prefers to wait a bit till we hear a response from the management to his letter. If they turn out to be assholes, then we’ll give them hell.
[…] Kifaya activist Ahmed el-Droubi who was detained for 33 days was fired from his job as an ecologist with Worley Parsons. The decision was taken by the Egyptian general manager of the company's Cairo office. (h/t The Arabist) […]
I first read about Ahmed via Mahmoud’s Den. I’ll forward him this link so he can update on what’s happening. And so will I. I guess with the connections network there is in Egypt, it’s easier to dispense ‘punishment’ indirectly…call me a cynic or a distrusting person..I think giving the company some pressure could help, especially since they are not Egyptian by the sound of it..I’ll find out.. btw..saw you guys are one of the many many bloggers who joined the anti torture campaign..welcome aboard.
Ingrid
Ack, what can we do to help him out? I doubt the company will re-hire him. There has to be some way to punish the company for its actions but more immediately to help Ahmed (and the other bloggers as they are released if they face similar circumstances) in a more practical everyday way. Words of support are nice but if they don’t have jobs these guys are going to need basic things like affording rent and buying groceries. I’m well into my overdraft in my own life but am more than happy to go a bit deeper …what can we do?
why should we wait !! we must act now, not sure guys you know that or not but Shar’awi & Kareem become very famouse abroad , draw attention of many many pple around the world, made them concerned about Egypt, Egyptian suffring under MUbarak regiem, last thing needed for someone realsed is to be fired, OH My God, w enabby let’s scandlized this company so no other ever dare to do it again , lets send emails to all our friiend all around Eu, so may be ” why not ” some nice guys would hold a demonstation in front of the company’s HQs
I googled worley parsons and nothing shows..is it a misspelling? I agree that in way, Ahmed might not get his job back..but if his company gets embarrassed enough, it might (you never know) be an example to other companies for those who will get released the next time it happens..especially if this is a multinational company with business outside of Egypt..the more they are effected by bad PR.
Ingrid
http://www.worleyparsons.com/v5/default.aspx
Worley Parsons – an oil services firm, so they may be used to bad PR
Thanks Simon..that’s kinda funny, oil services who are used to bad PR..well, probably for sure used to ‘thick skin’..comes from laughing all the way to the bank no doubt..thx again for the link
Ingrid
Dear readers,
WorleyParsons Komex has NOT replied to Droubi’s letter up till now. Droubi is considering legal action, after he was left with nothing.
Please express your solidarity with pro-democracy activist Droubi, and email the following message to his company directors:
To:
Mr. Paul Hardisty, the CEO of the company,
Mr. Mohamed Abdel Gawad, Cairo office manager,
Mr. Juan Ramon, Madrid office manager
And Ms. Marylou Lauria, Europe Headquarters Environmental Impact Assessment director.
paul.hardisty@worleyparsons.com, gawadco@hotmail.com, marylou.lauria@worleyparsons.com, Juanramon.miguelez@worleyparsons.com
Dear Sir/Ms.,
I’m writing to protest the unjust dismissal of your Cairo office ecologist, Ahmad Yasser El Droubi, who was detained for 33 days in Tora Prison, for expressing solidarity with Egypt’s pro-democracy movement.
Firing an employee, for his peaceful political activism, goes against all labor rights regulations. To add insult to the injury, El Droubi was not paid for the work he actually completed during the month of April, prior to his detention.
El Droubi received humiliating treatment from your Cairo office manager, Mr. Mohamed Abdel Gawad, who even instructed office staff to supervise El Droubi’s collection of his own personal items after ridiculing his human rights activities.
Due to aforementioned reasons, I demand that El Droubi be paid for work previously completed; in addition to compensating him for the unjust termination of his contract, either through re-instatement or by financial compensation.
Signature:
[…] Pro-democracy activist Ahmad El Droubi is to take legal action against his company, after he was dismissed for his political activism. Droubi had sent a letter of complaint to his management protesting his unfair dismissal, but as of the moment, WorleyParsons Komex has NOT replied. Droubi has joined the ranks of the ever-growing army of unemployed Egyptians. Please express your solidarity with pro-democracy activist Droubi, and email the following message to his company directors. […]
I emailed it to Mr Hardisty and then CC’d everyone else, going from the seemingly most important person to Mr. what’s his name from Cairo. I also added the following so if I do get a response (probably not, if anything, who knows, a threat that I can not defame them or something)..I will let you know.
Ingrid
I would like a formal response as I plan to write a post on my blog. Dismissal in and of itself is a discretionary situation and one where labour laws come into play. However, considering the repressive Egyptian regime where obviously peaceful solidarity with some notable Egyptian judges calling for an independent judiciary was considered an offense. He was never charged with anything. Whether this is the case or not, your company’s firing of Mr. Droubi appears to be a punishment to appease the Egyptian government. I sincerely hope that is not the case.
Well, I guess guys that there must be some sort of escalation in case the company did not show a positive response to our protests. Simply, someone should let them know, that all these e:mails and protests will be sent to every local and international media on the net. It is so easy, we can address, CNN, BBC, FT, Reuters, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Washignton Post, The Guardian….etc. We can take them one by one till the company is forced to give some response. The media is eager for news, and we have the material ready to feed their hunger. What do you think?
Egyptian Falcon, in order to escalate and receive some form of acknowledgement or attention, you need to provide the media with an ‘angle’. So if there is a pattern in Egypt or by multinationals who’ve employed people who were arrested and then fired them upon release..that’s something that could be turned into a story. If anyone would know of a connection between the Egyptian gov’t and the worleyparsons company..that could be a story. One person’s plight won’t interest them unless you provide them with something else..
so since most of you guys are in Egypt…see if there is a pattern and if you already know of one..document and prepare a newsrelease with verifiable links/references that bloggers, MSM people can use.
Ingrid
I am a Canadian reporter living in Cairo. Komex is based in Calgary, Alberta. I would like to write a story about Ahmed Al Droubi for publication in Canada. Anyone with relevant information can contact me at cbccairo@gmail.com. Thanks.
[…] Ahmad el-Droubi woke up in the morning to a postman knocking on his door. When he opened the letter, it was nothing but a sweet cheque from his former employer that had his unpaid salary and consultancy fees.The cheque Droubi received this morning signifies two things: First, it is an implicit acknowledgement from his company that he was unjustly dismissed. Second, it shows campaigning does work! Yes, Droubi wouldn’t have gotten back his rights, if it was not for you dear readers. On behalf of Droubi, I want to thank everyone who expressed their solidarity and support, and for all those who took the time to write the company management protesting the activist’s dismissal. […]
We are writing from the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre to let you know that we featured on our website the case of Ahmad el-Droubi (Egypt) — along with the 27 June response we received from WorleyParsons Komex.
The package of items on our site regarding this case can be found here: http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/616372
If we receive news about further developments in this case, we can post it on our website. Or if we receive comments on any of the items we have already posted about this case (the arabist.net items, the WorleyParsons Komex response, the Daily Star item, the Time magazine item), we can consider posting such comments on our site.
About our organization:
The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre links to reports about the social and environmental impacts (positive & negative) of over 2900 companies worldwide. Our website receives over 1.5 million hits per month. We are an independent non-profit organization working in a collaborative partnership with Amnesty International sections. Mary Robinson is Chair of our International Advisory Network, and 20 leading academic institutions are our Academic Partners. Further information about the Resource Centre can be found at our website: http://www.business-humanrights.org.
Our free Weekly Updates, which draw attention to the top business & human rights stories, are sent via email to over 3000 opinion leaders worldwide. The Updates have a special feature: we endeavour to include company responses alongside reports that criticise their conduct. This helps keep the Updates balanced and encourages companies to publicly address important questions and concerns being raised by civil society. In line with this goal, when the Ahmad el-Droubi case came to our attention, we contacted WorleyParsons Komex and they sent us a response.
If you or others wish to receive our free Updates, the sign-up form is here: http://www.business-humanrights.org/Updates/newsletter_register_form.
Mauricio Lazala
Researcher & Training Coordinator
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre