Nehad Abu El-KomsanOn 2 May 2011, human rights defender and lawyer Ms Nehad Abu-al-Qumsan received an abusive letter threatening her with death should she continue with her campaign for women's rights. Nehad Abu-al-Qumsan is the Chairwoman of the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights and is currently campaigning for the reform of family laws in Egypt. This threat follows a series of internet-based and physical attacks against women by Islamists Salafis, i.e. those adopting a literal interpretation of the Qur'an and Sharia calling for the application of Islamic teachings exactly as they were adopted by prophet Muhammad and his followers. ===Further Information=== In the letter received on 2 May 2011, Nehad Abu-al-Qumsan was barraged by offensive abuse and threatened to be killed. She was ordered to desist from her ongoing campaign for the reform of family laws with a view to harmonizing them with international human rights treaties. The letter was signed by a man under the name of Seif al-Islam, or sword of Islam, who claims to be the Emir, or Governor, of Muslims in the region. The sending of the letter follows recent statements made by Nehad Abu-al-Qusman calling for any attempts by Islamists to scupper the small gains achieved by women in relation to family laws in recent years to be vigorously resisted by the Egyptian authorities. The threat also comes in the context of an ongoing anti-women campaign waged across the country by Egyptian Islamist Salafis. In recent weeks the Salafis stepped up their attacks on sections of women across Egypt threatening them with punishment according to Shari'a law unless they comply with a strict version of Islamic code of behavior including the wearing of the hijab. The Egyptian Center for Women's Rights is an award-winning NGO which campaigns for the realisation of Egyptian women's rights, combating of all forms of discrimination against women, and promoting legislative reform with a view to harmonizing all laws related to women with international human rights treaties including the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Front Line believes that the threatening letter received by Nehad Abu-al-Qumsan is directly related to her work in defence of human rights, in particular to the promotion and protection of women's rights in Egypt. Front Line is seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Nehad Abu-al-Qumsan.