To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Egypt about (1) delays in bringing imprisoned suspects to trial, and (2) allegations of torture, solitary confinement and maltreatment, which have led to prolonged hunger strikes.
Answered on
13 October 2014
We have raised the importance of due legal process for detainees in Egypt with the Egyptian government on a number of occasions. Most recently, the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney, (Mr Cameron), raised the issue with President al-Sisi in September 2014. The Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge, (Mr Hammond), also raised his concerns with President al-Sisi during a visit to Cairo on 24 July, and Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East, (Mr Ellwood), raised concerns during his visit to Cairo on 25 August. We will continue to urge the Egyptian authorities to ensure that human and legal rights are fully upheld in all cases.