The Chair of the EP Subcommittee on Human Rights, Pier Antonio Panzeri, condemns the harassment of Egyptian human rights defenders in reprisal for their meeting with French President Macron.

"I express full solidarity with the prominent Egyptian human rights defenders who are being harassed and pressured since their meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron...."

On the historic visit of Pope Francis to the Arabian Peninsula, Antonio Panzeri, Chair of the EP Subcommittee on Human Rights, stated:

"His Holiness Pope Francis pays the first ever visit by a Pontiff to the Arabian Peninsula, the cradle of Islam. This historic moment is praised by both Catholics and Muslims in the Middle East and worldwide.

Following the sentencing of human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang by a Chinese court, the Chair of the EP Subcommittee on Human Rights, Pier Antonio Panzeri, issued this statement.

"I am gravely concerned by Chinese human rights lawyer Mr Wang Quanzhang's sentencing under charges of "subversion of state power" by the Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate Court on 28 January. I deplore the fact that his trial only took place on 26 December 2018, more than three years after his disappearance in August 2015 during a large crackdown on human rights lawyers..."

"I am dismayed by the ongoing unacceptable situation for the refugee football player Hakeem Al-Araibi. The rightful place for Hakeem is certainly not behind bars in Thailand but outside, with his family, friends and supporters.

Returning Hakeem Al-Araibi to Bahrain would violate international human rights law and put his life in serious danger. Thai immigration authorities should ensure that he is allowed to return to Australia without any harm to his wellbeing."

Joint statement by FEMM and DROI Chairs:

Pier Antonio Panzeri, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), and Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, Chair of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), stated:

Relieved about the pardoning of Matthew Hedges after his sentence to life imprisonment, Mr Pier Antonio Panzeri made the following statement:

"I welcome the news that the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pardoned British academic Matthew Hedges and hundreds of other prisoners. I also wish Matthew and his family some much needed rest in order to recover quickly from this ordeal...."

Eight Members of the Subcommittee on Human Rights visited Canada from 29 October to 2 November.

The Chair of the Subcommittee, Pier Antonio Panzeri, stated: "Our delegation visited Canada to have an exchange on human rights challenges and to learn more about the human rights situation of indigenous peoples (IP), notably in the light of Prime Minister Trudeau's commitment to reset the government's relationship with Canada's indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit and Metis).

On the occasion of the 16th World Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October, Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, IT), Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, stated:

"I would like to recall the EU's unwavering and united stance against the Death Penalty in all cases and under all circumstances.