1. To the greatest football player of all time,
and the idol of generations of young people in modern times
Dear Pelé,
The Egyptian people has a great admiration of you, not only as the great legend of football but also as a
citizen of Brazil, the country whose leadership supports our fair case of fighting a fascistic military coup
that is working hard on destroying our dream of a free, democratic and just Egypt.
We are writing to you on behalf of many of the Egyptian people, who are since 3 July 2013 getting
unjustly killed, injured and detained by the predatory coup government who denies us our human rights,
and who kidnapped our first democratically elected president, suspended our constitution approved by a
64% majority, dissolved our freely elected parliament and committed a great many political crimes of
which we mention :
1. The massacres of the Rabaa and Nahda Squares that resulted in thousands of deaths, 10.000 injured and
more than 21.000 political prisoners.
2. The killing of 74 football supporters at the end of a match in Port-Said on 2 February 2012 in a
slaughter ordered by the military rulers to punish the Ahly Club supporters who played an important role
in overthrowing the dictator Mubarak.
3. The confiscation of the gold medal of Kung Fu world champion Mohamed Youssef for wearing the
Rabaa symbol during the medal ceremony in St Petersburg, Russia. This symbol is a token of
remembrance of the advocates of democracy killed and burned alive on Rabaa Square, some of whom
were personal friends of our Champion.
4. The discrimination against our national football idol Abou Trika for disapproving of the military coup
and for his refusal to shake hands with the minister of Youth and Sports who is hosting you in Egypt.
Abou Trika was then forced to terminate his career, now practically impossible under the military rule.
5. The banning of Ahmed Abdel Zaher from playing internationally for lifting his hand with the Rabaa
symbol during a final match on 10 November 2013 and depriving him from his reward for this match in
which he played brilliantly and scored one of the 2 goals that gave his club the African Championship.
Therefore, It would be very disappointing and distressing if you - the Great Pelé - decide to accept an
invitation by a government who committed all those crimes. We recommend, in true affection for you,
that you refrain from getting involved in an activity that is bound to stain your fine reputation and
glorious image. The football supporter masses in Egypt are planning huge demonstrations against your
visit, and nobody can stop them because they feel threatened by the timing of your visit.
We are working on overthrowing the fascist regime and count on all the good people to help us, at least
by not supporting our killers. Soon, we hope, we will be able invite you to the Free and Democratic
Egypt. All Egyptians will will be honored to welcome you then.
We count on you to cancel this trip and accept the people's invitation rather than the killers' invitation.
With love and respect to the great man you are.
The Executive Committee of the movement of
EGYPTIANS WORLDWIDE FOR DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE, Europe Chapter
through:
Mrs Maissa Abdellatif, France
+33 682 045 092
Dr Hossam El-Shazly, Switzerland +41 764 740 929