Strasbourg, 15/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - Concerned about the human rights situation in Egypt, the European Parliament said on Thursday 15 January that it supported a ban on exports of security or military aid material that could be used in the repression of peaceful demonstrations or against the EU's strategic or security interests. Adopting a joint resolution, MEPs also call for a European-wide ban on the export to Egypt of intrusion and surveillance technologies which could be used to spy on and repress citizens.
Seriously concerned about the human rights restrictions, “notably the freedom of expression, association and assembly, political pluralism and the rule of law”, MEPs call for the end of all violence against political opponents, protesters, journalists, and civil society actors. The Parliament also calls for the “immediate and unconditional” release of all prisoners of conscience, all those detained for peacefully exercising their right to freedom, assembly and association, as well as those detained for their alleged membership of the Muslim Brotherhood. It also encourages representatives of the EU delegation and the embassies of the EU member states in Cairo to attend politically sensitive trials. The Parliament advocates fair trials that are in line with international standards. It condemns the use of violence against protesters and calls on the authorities to revoke the protest law of November 2013. (CG)