President al-Sisi in Brussels: Amnesty denounces human rights violations in Egypt
On the occasion of King Philippe’s reception of Egyptian President al-Sisi at the Palace last Wednesday, February 16, activists from Amnesty International, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), the Fédération Internationale pour les droits humains (FIDH), the Organization Global Fight Against Torture (OMCT) and other organizations fought against human rights abuses in Egypt.
“As the red carpet rolls out here for President Allloper, we want to be the time to remember that their country is leading with an iron fist and violently and deliberately violating the human rights of the people. For example, people who are considered dissidents, such as human rights defenders, are persecuted and imprisoned,” said Wies De Graeve, director of Amnesty International Flanders.
Student Ahmed Samir Santawy has been stuck for over a year from his academic research on women’s rights and religion.
During the action, several people who have experienced the Egyptian repression took the floor. Ramy Shaath was jailed for more than two years for his activism. He took it along with his husbands Céline Lebrun-Shaath who actively campaigned for her release. Souheila Yildiz is the Ghent partner of Ahmed Samir Santawya student who has been stuck for over a year from his academic research on women’s rights and religion.
In particular, all speakers called for the release of Ahmed Samir Santawy. Earlier, a group of more than 70 organizations and all rectors of the universities in Belgium launched an appeal for his release.
“The fate of Ahmed Samir is a striking example of the repression in Egypt. He was an intermediate student and is being held without the slightest start there.
His biggest crime seems to be that he concerns sexual and reproductive rights in Egypt. Also because of his close relationship with Belgium, we urged Prime Minister De Croo and Deputy Prime Minister Wilmès to use the meeting with President al-Sisi to argue for his release.”
“We urge King Philippe, Alexander De Croo and Sophie Wilmès to ask President al-Sisi to release this young man who has no business in prison,” said Wies De Graeve.
Amnesty also addressed calls to other EU leaders attending the EU-Africa summit. According to the organization, there is a serious war crisis in Egypt, in particular the perpetration of attacks on human rights defenders, which needs to be addressed urgently. Amnesty wants Egypt to get that message clear on the sidelines of this summit.
“EU leaders must not allow President al-Sisi to cover up Egypt’s highly repressive policies.”
“Despite the appearances that the Egyptian government is upholding, serious human rights violations in Egypt continue unabated. EU leaders must not allow President al-Sisi to cover up Egypt’s highly repressive policies,” said Eve Geddie, director of Amnesty International’s European office.
“Those behind bars for having their human rights peacefully expect EU leaders to take it up on them and push for the situation to change.”
“If they don’t, then those who have found the EU strengthening ties with this data are then protecting the population base in Egypt.”
Amnesty is also concerned about the Egyptian government’s attempt to drive independent human rights NGOs out of the country. In January 2022 it became Arab Human Rights Information Network that after 18 years it ceases its activities, because the work could not continue in a kind of repressive climate.
Repression of human rights defenders
Human rights defenders and other civil society actors political criminal investigations† travel bansfreezing of assets, extrajudicial probation measures and other forms of harassment†
In recent months, the government has also recruited at least 28 human rights defenders and peaceful representatives of the political opposition for special courts sued on grounds of unfounded “fake” proceedings.
The Egyptian government has also condemned women’s rights activists for the reporting sexual harassment†
In 2021, a manifest will be at least process five to five years because they criticize the situation, the economic policy of living standards in Egypt.
Despite being explained to the discrimination against women To prevent this, the Egyptian government continues to suppress “immorality” of “decency” including sexual violence. They have also punished women’s rights activists for reporting sexual harassment†
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President al-Sisi’s visit to Brussels comes shortly after news that the EU is proposing to take on the role of Global Counter Terrorism Foruman influential international organization engaged in counter-terrorism.
a group of 16 NGOs criticized this announcement when Egypt abused the fight against and the legislation it has put in place to undermine dissidents’ rights to due process and keep thousands of people in indefinite pre-trial detention.
Amnesty International calls the EU countries of the African Union on their human rights obligations
“By continuing its old-fashioned relations with Egypt, the EU risks undermining its own resources. The meeting with President al-Sisi must not provide an opportunity to cover up the terrible violations of human rights in the country. The harassment, intimidation and any detention of human rights defenders in Egypt must end,” concludes Eve Geddie.