21/11/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 20 November, the chair of the European Parliament's sub-committee on human rights, Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, Italy), called on the Egyptian government to "release all those detained for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression, assembly and association" – rights which are enshrined in the Egyptian constitution. In a press release, he added that Egypt should abide by international law and safeguard the highest international standards with regard to the right to a fair trial and due process. Panzeri welcomed the release of Irish national Ibrahim Halawa, who was acquitted of accusations of murder, criminal fire and the possession of illegal weapons, and who had been arrested at a Muslim Brotherhood rally in August 2013. Panzeri stated that the European Parliament had "always considered Halawa to be a prisoner of conscience, detained for having exercised his right to freedom of expression". (CG)