To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the death sentences passed on former President of Egypt Mohamed Morsi and more than 100 others, and of the impact of such sentences on militancy in Sinai and on the attitudes of young non-Islamic people in Egypt.
Answered on
8 July 2015
It is the long-standing policy of the Government to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), raised our concerns over the sentencing to death of former President Morsi with the Egyptian Ambassador in May. He also issued a statement setting out our concern and noting that there are further stages in the legal process, which we will continue to follow closely.
We do not underestimate the challenges Egypt faces, including long-standing militancy in Sinai. Stability and security in the long run is best served by bringing as many groups as possible into political processes. We have been clear that the Egyptian authorities must apply the rule of law consistently in line with international standards, and protect the political and legal rights of all Egyptians as the basis for the country’s future stability.