MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the deteriorating situation of human rights in Egypt, in particular the case of the activists of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)

15.12.2020 - (2020/2912(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Anna Fotyga, Karol Karski, Adam Bielan, Ryszard Czarnecki, Angel Dzhambazki, Eugen Jurzyca, Assita Kanko, Joanna Kopcińska, Elżbieta Kruk, Elżbieta Rafalska, Bogdan Rzońca, Hermann Tertsch, Valdemar Tomaševski, Evžen Tošenovský, Alexandr Vondra, Veronika Vrecionová, Charlie Weimers, Jadwiga Wiśniewska
on behalf of the ECR Group

B9‑0437/2020

European Parliament resolution on the deteriorating situation of human rights in Egypt, in particular the case of the activists of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)

(2020/2912(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on Egypt,

–  having regard to the statement by the Spokesperson on the recent arrests of human rights activists in Egypt of 21 November 2020,

–  having regard to the declaration by the group of UN experts (Special Rapporteurs) calling for the release of Egyptian human rights defenders jailed after meeting diplomats of 27 November 2020,

–  having regard to the African Charter on Human Rights and Peoples of 1981, ratified by Egypt on 20 March 1984,

–  having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

–  having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966,

–  having regard to the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief of 1981,

–  having regard to the Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt,

–  having regard to the Arab Charter on Human Rights, to which Egypt is a party,

–  having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

 

1. whereas Egypt is an important partner of the European Union and its Member States in a wide range of areas including trade, security and people to people contacts, and is critical to the security, stability and development of the wider the Middle East and North African region;

 

2. whereas the European Union and its Member States continuously seek to support the Egyptian government and the Egyptian institutions in implementing domestic, economic, political and social reforms; whereas Commissioner Varhelyi welcomed Egypt’s reform programme, which helped Egypt to successfully cope with the negative implications of the Covid-19 pandemic;

 

3. whereas the human rights situation in Egypt has deteriorated over the past years and described as more repressive than under former President Mubarak; whereas reports increasingly note restrictions on political freedoms,  the media, civil society organisations and the freedoms of expression and assembly;

 

4. whereas reports note authorities targeting activists, parties and political movements that criticize the government, with arrests, harsh prison terms, death sentences, extrajudicial violence, forced disappearances, police brutality and torture;

 

5. whereas the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) is an independent group promoting political, civil, economic and social issues in Egypt; whereas in November, leading EIPR member, Gasser Abdel-Razek, EIPR Director of criminal justice, Karim Ennarah, and EIPR’s Office Manager, Mohammed Basheer, were arrested on charges of terror links and of spreading false news; whereas EIPR has described the arrests as a coordinated attack against legitimate human rights work in Egypt;

 

6. whereas on 4 December 2020, three EIPR members were released following widespread international criticism; whereas a researcher for the group, Patrick Zaky, who was arrested in February, remains in detention for suspicion of spreading fake news, misusing social media and inciting protest without permission;

 

7. whereas the security situation in Egypt remains fragile, with high risk of terrorist attacks in the Sinai peninsula and major cities across the country by various Islamist organisations, despite the government’s aggressive tactics to combat it;

 

8. whereas numerous attacks by Islamist organisations, including local Da’esh affiliated groups, have targeted Christians and their places of worship, injuring and killing hundreds; whereas Egypt’s Christian community has faced harassment and assault, including violent attacks against persons and damage to their property;

 

 

1. Reaffirms Egypt is a key strategic partner to the EU and its Member States and supports to the Egyptian government and people to address their country’s economic, political and security challenges; supports the Egyptian people in their aspirations to establish a free, stable, prosperous, inclusive, and democratic country, which respects its national and international commitments;

 

2. Expresses concern over the arrests and targeting of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) by authorities; calls for the release of all EIPR staff; stresses that the EIPR provides an invaluable service to promote personal, political, civil, economic and social rights and freedoms in the country;

 

3. Expresses further concern about reported systemic targeting of human rights defenders and a zero-tolerance approach to dissent by the Egyptian authorities, often under the pretext of countering terrorism; calls on the Egyptian authorities to abide by their international commitments and obligations to the freedom of expression, the freedom of association and the right to a fair trial;

 

4. Reminds the Egyptian authorities that respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and providing space to civil society, are enshrined in the EU-Egypt Partnership Priorities and essential elements of EU-Egypt relations and the Egyptian Constitution;

 

5. Stresses the importance to guarantee the equality of all Egyptians, regardless of their faith or belief; welcomes President Sisi’s efforts to protect the Christian minority and efforts to create a new Islamic discourse to challenge extremism and radicalisation;

 

6. Calls on the Egyptian authorities, including the military and security forces, to respect the rights of Christians and protect them against violence and discrimination and ensure the prosecution of those responsible; calls on Egypt to review its blasphemy laws to ensure the protection of religious minorities from this law;

 

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the European External Action Service, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the President, Government and Parliament of the Arab Republic of Egypt.