Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Eddin Saad (Sa'd al-Din or Sa'ad Eddih) Ibrahim was born in Mansura, Egypt . He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Cairo in 1960. In 1968 he graduated with a PhD in sociology from the University of Washington and became an American citizen. He is a human rights advocate and a 2002 Noble Peace Prize nominee for his work promoting the causes of minority rights and democracy . In 1988 Ibrahim founded the Ibn Khaldun Center for Developmental Studies in Cairo. Its program of studies seeks ways to develop democracy and to advance it as a way of organizing the public life of a society. Specific projects conducted by the Ibn Khaldun Center (a freedom house) have included monitoring elections, voter education, and training students in social science research methods. Ibrahim's work on elections allowed him the opportunity to serve as the secretary general of the Independent Commission for Electoral Review. The Commission monitored Egyptian elections in 1900 and 1995. While preparing to monitor the Egyptian elections of 2000 Ibrahim was arrested. Among the investigative activities being conducted that were offensive to Egyptian authorities was the documentary film being prepared describing Egyptian election irregularities. To silence Ibrahim the publication of the Ibn Khaldun Center's periodical, Civil Society , was banned in January 2000. The Center itself was closed ... log in or subscribe to read full text