Born in Egypt, Prof. Ibrahim received his education at Cairo University and U. of Washington. He is also the founder and first Secretary General of the Arab Organization for Human Rights (1983-87). Because of their advocacy of democracy and defense of human rights, he and 27 of his associates were arrested in 2000, tried and convicted twice and sentenced by an Egyptian State Security Court to 7 years at hard labor. Upon an appeal Egypt's highest Court of Cassation tried him a third time, acquitted him and his 27 associates of all charges. Saad Ibrahim is a visiting professor this Spring at Columbia University and New York University.