News

Egypt: MEPs express support for democratic reforms, call for investigation into football violence

17-02-2012

 

The European Parliament has expressed its strong support for reforms leading to democracy in Egypt and deplored the loss of life in recent clashes in Port Said, in a resolution adopted in a plenary session on 16 February.
 
In the resolution on recent developments in Egypt, MEPs expressed their solidarity with the Egyptian people in this crucial period of democratic transition in the country and called on the Egyptian authorities to ensure full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. They underlined their strong support for reforms leading to the establishment of democracy and stressed the importance of holding free, fair and transparent elections.
 
MEPs deplored the considerable loss of life and the high number of injuries in Port Said on 1 February 2012, where at least 74 people were killed and hundreds more were injured after clashes broke out at a football match. They also expressed concern about accusations that the clashes were politically motivated. MEPs therefore called on the Egyptian authorities to launch an independent investigation into what happened in order to bring those responsible to justice.
 
The situation of NGOs in Egypt is alarming, say MEPs, who called for the criminal charges against NGOs and political foundations to be dropped immediately. They welcomed the release of imprisoned bloggers Alaa Abd El-Fattah and Maikel Nabil Sanad, and repeated their call to the Egyptian authorities to guarantee that no blogger, journalist or human rights defender will be subject to direct or indirect harassment or intimidation in the country. (ENPI Info Centre)
 
Read more
 
Press release
 
ENPI Info Centre – Egypt: Ashton hopes swift investigation will shed light on football riot (02-02-12)

 

 


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