Following the approval of the 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)’, the Socialists and Democrats reiterate their strong condemnation of the open and widespread human-rights violations currently taking place in Egypt and demand the release of Patrick Zaki, along with all those imprisoned for their opinions and for political reasons.

The S&D shadow rapporteur, Pierfrancesco Majorino MEP, stated:

"The European Parliament has sent a very clear message to Egypt about the deteriorating situation of human rights: the deterioration is blatant, widespread and calls into question the relationship between the EU and Egypt. The vote on the resolution today represents a severe condemnation of the repression that is taking place against civil society, of the harassment, mass arrests, torture and abuse of inmates, systematic use of pre-trial detention, harassment against women and LGBTI communities, and attacks on freedom of expression.

"Hence, the EU Parliament has firmly demanded the immediate release of Patrick Zaki and of all those who are now unjustly in prison for their opinions. We have underlined the importance of having finally kicked off the trial for the murder of Giulio Regeni, condemning all the Egyptian authorities’ attempts to obstruct the investigations.

"These are all the clear reasons why we strongly believe that the whole relationship with Egypt must be revised, making respect for human rights a precondition for further developments. This would mean, as we requested, the immediate suspension of exports of arms, surveillance technologies and other security tools to Egypt and the possibility of imposing restrictive measures against high-level Egyptian officials responsible for serious violations.

"This is what the European Parliament, voice of the European people, demands. Therefore, it is totally unacceptable that a member state’s president prefers to turn a blind eye to the open human-rights violations and, for merely economic reasons, bestow the légion d’honneur on the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi."