It is time to stop criticizing the human rights status in China, according to engineer and international businessman E.M.EL-Hammamy, in an article he wrote for the Human rights magazine.

In his article, which was published on the No.2 edition of the Human rights magazine of the year 2002, Hammamy expressed his mere impressions on human rights status in China based on his personal experience and what he saw in China.

"I believe that the criticism directed at China is either intentional, baseless, or based on misinformation and it is time to stop," said Egyptian citizen Hammamy who, 64, is a professional engineer living in Dalian, a port city in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Hammamy visited China five times between March 1998 and May 2000 for establishment of international business relations between the Chinese firms and business partners in the Middle East and Africa.

He obtained a visa for permanent living and working in China from the Chinese Embassy in Kuwait early 2001 and settled down in the Jinzhou District of Dalian city in April of the same year.

Hammamy visited 35 Chinese cities and towns, including all major cities in between, starting from Hong Kong to Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, during his previous five visits and the present period of continuous living in China.

Hammamy said in his article that before his first visit to China, he used to hear criticism of the human rights status in China, and that criticism did not stop! This motivated him to react by expressing his own impressions.

"The first visit created a surprising adverse feelings to what I used to hear in the foreign media. In the airport, the formalities were so easy, no waiting, no suffering. Everything is well organized and running very smooth," Hammamy said.

He said when he submitted his passport to the immigration control officer, a smile preceded verification of his passport data, which took a short time, less than half minute assessed by him, and hence, his passport was stamped and given back to him. Hammamy said he was deeply impressed by the generous hospitality and warm welcoming by the Chinese people. "The smile faces foreigners everywhere." The strong friendly relations with many Chinese citizens in many cities encouraged him to take the official action for living in China, Hammamy said.

As a religious Muslim, he said: "My belief and feelings were unprecedentedly respected."

During his repeated visits, he met with Chinese citizens affiliated to the prevailing beliefs in China in addition to members of the Communist Party of China. Several times, his Chinese hosts invited him for lunch or dinner in Muslim restaurant and that was repeated in different cities, Mammamy said in his article.

Hammamy said he is religious, but declines cults. "I can take my food anywhere meanwhile deeply appreciate that gesture from my kind hosts," he said.

He said that after his repeated visits, he got fully convinced that "China is the most safest place for living and the most promising land for business and investment". In proportion to the population of 1.3 billion, "crime in China is negligible." The Chinese street is very safe, he said.

Hammamy said in his article, the innocent smile in the Chinese streets reflects that the Chinese people enjoy life with clean heart and without tension. Such citizen does not plot or think into crime. "That is why the crime level is obviously low and China is the most safest place for living and investment," he said.

"I have visited 20 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia since 1961. I believe that the criticism directed at China is either intentional, baseless, or based on misinformation and it is time to stop," Hammamy said.

(eastsay.com June 14, 2002)