Brussels, 02/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 29 April, 59 MEPs of 17 different nationalities belonging to the GUE, S&D, ALDE, Greens, EFDD and EPP Groups called for the immediate release of human rights campaigners and peaceful protesters in Egypt - including Ahmed Abdallah, the co-founder of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms, who was arrested on 25 April. This organisation works on cases of enforced disappearances, and supports the Egyptian and Italian lawyers working for the family of Italian student Giulio Regni, who was found dead on 3 February 2016 (see EUROPE 11509).
In a letter to High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, the MEPs “request the immediate release of all individuals detained and sentenced solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly”. Several hundred people have been arrested since 15 April during demonstrations against the current government and its transfer of two islands to Saudi Arabia.
The MEPs also call on Mogherini to authorise legal staff from the EU delegation in Cairo to follow and closely monitor the trials of those who were charged after exercising their rights, “including Ahmed Abdallah”. In addition, the MEPs say the EU member states should uphold the common EU position of December 2008 (2008/92944/CFSP), which lays out the criteria for applications for authorisation to export conventional weapons. These criteria include the respect of human rights and international humanitarian law, and the domestic situation in the country of final destination. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)