{"id":252773,"date":"2015-11-04T10:16:59","date_gmt":"2015-11-04T09:16:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.npwj.org\/?p=252773"},"modified":"2023-12-19T10:22:52","modified_gmt":"2023-12-19T09:22:52","slug":"european-working-group-on-egypt-open-letter-to-british-prime-minister-david-cameron","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.npwj.org\/it\/press-release\/european-working-group-on-egypt-open-letter-to-british-prime-minister-david-cameron\/","title":{"rendered":"European Working Group on Egypt: Open letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron"},"content":{"rendered":"

4 November 2015<\/span><\/h1>\n
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In advance of the visit in the United Kingdgom of Egypt’s President Sisi, the European Working Group on Egypt (which includes among its supporting members Emma Bonino,\u00a0former Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and founder of No Peace Without Justice)\u00a0 addressed an open letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron\u00a0that calls on him to raise issues of the rule of law and human rights, and in particular to press President Sisi to release people unjustly imprisoned.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Dear Prime Minister,<\/p>\n

Tomorrow you will receive\u00a0President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi of Egyp<\/strong>t in Downing Street. Few would deny the importance of maintaining contact with Egypt\u2019s leadership, in light of the range of interests that the UK has with Egypt and the significant security threats emanating from the Middle East. But it would be incompatible with British and European interests and values to give President Sisi the endorsement of a Downing Street welcome without also making clear that Egypt\u2019s current direction raises serious concerns. You should take this opportunity to press Mr. Sisi to ensure respect for the rule of law and human rights, and call on him to free more prisoners detained illegally or due to unjust laws.<\/p>\n

In May of this year, Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood said that Britain looked to Egyptian authorities \u201cto apply the rule of law consistently in line with international standards, and to protect the political and legal rights of all Egyptians as the basis for the country\u2019s future stability\u201d. It is hard to deny that Egypt is falling short of these standards. In the last few years, tens of thousands of people have been arrested, often for nothing more than non-violent protest and political dissent; hundreds have been sentenced to death after mass trials that do not meet recognised standards of due process.<\/p>\n

There is strong evidence that the closing of space for legitimate political activity and freedom of expression is pushing some moderate opponents of the regime towards radicalisation and violence. The result of political repression is disillusionment with the political process, illustrated by the very low turnout in the current parliamentary elections, with worrying implications for Egypt\u2019s stability.<\/p>\n

At a time when President Sisi is seeking to use his interaction with foreign leaders to project an image of political legitimacy, you have an opportunity to show that Britain\u2019s endorsement is not unconditional. You should make clear that Britain believes that an end to the policy of political repression is essential to restore the rule of law in Egypt and reverse the drift toward greater instability. In particular you should press President Sisi to take steps to release or grant amnesties to those people who remain in prison for political offences or for breach of the anti-protest law. In September, Mr Sisi released 100 prisoners ahead of his trip to the UN General Assembly in New York. He should be pressed to do more to correct the authoritarian drift of the last two years.<\/p>\n

Such an approach would contribute to encouraging Egypt towards a path that offers the best hope for its future development, as well as being most consistent with the objectives that Britain and the EU more widely seek to fulfill in this important relationship.<\/p>\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n

The European Working Group on Egypt (EWGE<\/a>)<\/strong>*<\/p>\n