On the deteriorating situation of human rights in Egypt, in particular the case of the activists of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
B-9-2020-0442
on behalf of the PPE Group · Rapporteur: Michael Gahler, Christian Sagartz, Isabel WiselerLima, Miriam Lexmann, Tomáš Zdechovský, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, Vladimír Bilčík, Inese Vaidere, Tomas Tobé, Krzysztof Hetman, Romana Tomc, Magdalena Adamowicz, Ivan Štefanec, Benoît Lutgen, Janina Ochojska, Eva Maydell, Luděk Niedermayer, Jiří Pospíšil, Stanislav Polčák, Peter van Dalen, IoanRareş Bogdan, Peter Pollák
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Parliament's resolution on the deteriorating human rights situation in Egypt focuses on the arrested activists of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). It expresses concern, welcomes the release of EIPR staff from pre-trial custody, and calls on the Egyptian government to protect civil rights, journalists and their families.¶¶¶ It criticises arbitrary and excessive pre-trial custody, the persecution of journalists, and the high number of imprisoned journalists, and asks for the release of Kamal al-Balshy.¶ It calls for human rights focuses in the EU-Egypt Partnership Priorities after 2020, urges a moratorium on the death penalty, and renews criticism over the killing of Giulio Regeni.¶¶¶
Key points
- Expresses concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in Egypt and calls on the Egyptian government to comply with national and international legislation on human rights.¶
- Underlines the importance of a strong civil society and states worry about reports of intimidation and prosecution of civil rights activists, journalists and NGOs.¶
- Deplores violence against activists and calls on the Egyptian government to investigate all alleged violence and bring perpetrators to justice.¶
- Welcomes the work of civil rights organisations such as the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.¶
- Welcomes the release of imprisoned EIPR leading staffers from pre-trial custody and calls for a transparent, fair and swift handling of their case.¶
- Calls on the Egyptian government to pursue domestic reforms protecting civil rights activists, journalism and their families, and to reform the practice of arbitrary and excessive pre-trial custody.¶
- Calls for the release of Kamal al-Balshy and criticises Egypt for its low record of media freedom and high number of imprisoned journalists.
- Calls for continued clear human rights focuses in negotiations on the Partnership Priorities for EU-Egypt cooperation after 2020.¶
- Reiterates outrage over the killing of Giulio Regeni, criticises the failure to investigate, and welcomes the case by Italian prosecutors against four members of Egypt's national security agency.¶
- Urges the Egyptian government to issue a moratorium on the death penalty.¶
- Urges Egypt and the EU to strengthen cooperation on combating international terrorism and on advancing human rights, including freedom of expression and freedom of religion and belief.¶
Who is affected
- The Egyptian government, which is called on to protect human rights, reform pre-trial custody and release detainees.¶¶
- Civil rights activists, journalists and NGOs in Egypt, who face intimidation, prosecution and detention.¶¶
- The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights and its arrested staff, whose case the resolution addresses.¶¶
- The EU and Egypt, urged to strengthen cooperation on terrorism and human rights.¶
Figures and deadlines
- Pre-trial custody of up to two years permitted under Egyptian legislation.¶
- On 20 September 2020, the brother of journalist Khaled al-Balshy was arrested.¶
- On 3 November, 13 diplomats, some from EU Member States, attended a briefing by the EIPR.¶
- In October and November Egypt executed at least 57 men and women, nearly double the 32 people executed in 2019.¶