Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2015-01-14-Speech-3-388-000"
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"en.20150114.10.3-388-000"2
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"Mr President, I recognise that Egypt is an important partner to the European Union, but tonight we are debating a resolution that is deliberately critical of Egypt. We want our criticisms to be heard.
The mass detention campaign in that country continues to lock up tens of thousands of people. In 2014, ten thousand people were arrested on charges of rioting, sabotage and terrorism. This is not a credible approach to justice and the rule of law. Equally, the Egyptian representative told me that it is the wrong time for us to protest on the use of the death penalty. But Egyptian courts have this year meted out preliminary death sentences to over a thousand supporters of the ousted President, Mohamed Morsi. The point is not that we oppose or agree with the previous President, but that we absolutely disagree – and always will do – with death sentences. All unwarranted detentions are wrong, but Egypt should understand that the damage to its international reputation comes with the continued detention of the three al-Jazeera journalists. No one outside the country believes them to be anything other than bonafide journalists. After the highest court of law overturned their conviction on procedural grounds, they should, frankly, be released and not retried.
My Group also condemns the attack on LGBT rights, represented by the raid on the bathhouse leading to the arrest of 26 allegedly gay people. I am relieved that these charges have now been dropped, but I emphasise that sexual rights must be respected, just like any human rights.
Finally, it is proper for us to question the status and content of the NGO bill and to insist that international foundations and donors can have a proper role in facilitating the free flow of ideas without improper interference in the political choice of the Egyptian people. Partnership should mean partnership."@en1
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