10/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - Condemnation of harassment of journalists and human rights defenders. On Wednesday 9 May, at the opening of the European Parliament (EP) plenary session, the president of the Parliament, Martin Schulz, condemned the intimidation and growing harassment to which human rights defenders and journalists, bloggers and writers in Egypt are increasingly prone. Those intimidated and harassed include the Sakharov 2011 winner, Mahfouz Asmaa, an activist in the Youth Movement. Schulz also pointed out that, despite the announcements of reforms and measures intended to open up Bahrain, the pressure on human rights defenders has increased over recent weeks. He called on the country for “immediate national dialogue” with all political forces and recalled that it was their duty to respect human rights. He added: “We shall always be present alongside those who, in the neighbouring or more distant countries, are fighting for an open, pluralistic and tolerant society.” (CG/transl.jl)