Brussels, 03/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - During the evening of Monday 2 May, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini described the storming of the Egyptian Press Syndicate's building by Egyptian security forces the previous day as “a worrying development”.
In a press release, Mogherini's spokesperson stated that this storming continued a trend of restricting space for civil society and the freedom of expression. The spokesperson then mentioned the “high” number of arrests following protests in April.
“Freedom of assembly and press freedom are essential for democracy, to guarantee that all peaceful voices are heard and respected”, Mogherini's spokesperson stated, calling for the release of people who had been detained for expressing their opinion. “The law regulating assembly should be brought in line with the Egyptian Constitution”, the spokesperson added.
On 29 April, 59 MEPs also called for the immediate release of human rights activists and peaceful protesters in Egypt (see EUROPE 11544).
Egyptian police reportedly arrested two journalists at the storming of the Egyptian Press Syndicate's building in Cairo on 1 May. These journalists were accused of inciting people to demonstrate, in violation of legislation banning any public assembly that had not received prior authorisation. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)