Verbatim report of proceedings

Thursday, 13 December 2018 - Strasbourg

Egypt, notably the situation of human rights defenders

  Wajid Khan (S&D). – Mr President, for the second time this year we are raising the alarming situation of human rights in Egypt. The Egyptian authorities must stop the crackdown on human rights defenders, who are disappearing at an alarming rate. Egypt must immediately release Amal Fathy, Ismail al-Iskandarani, Hisham Gaafar and all those who have been detained for peacefully expressing their opinion. I urge the Member States to be united and to speak with one voice during the upcoming EU—Egypt Association Council, to continue applying pressure on President al-Sisi.

We must reconsider our level of engagement and cooperation with Egypt if it continues to disregard international law. Fundamental democratic rights, such as freedom of expression, political pluralism and the rule of law, must be guaranteed.

Let me be clear. If Egypt wants to be more than a neighbour, and to become an important partner country to the EU, there is only one way: to make concrete progress on its human rights record.