European Parliment Resolution on the Human Rights Situation in Egypt

Here is the resolution that was adopted by the EP dated 15 Jan 2008 on the situation of human rights in Egypt, and that provoked deep resentment and seems to be threatening the relations between the Egyptian gov. and the EU..

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European Parliament resolution on the Human Rights situation in Egypt (15.1.2008)

The European Parliament,

- Having regard to its previous resolutions on human rights in Egypt and its resolution of 19 January 2006 on violence against Sudanese refugees

- Having regard to the EU-Egypt Association Agreement signed in Luxembourg on 25 June 2001 and in force since 1 June 2004, and in particular its article 2

- Having regard to Article 11 of the Treaty on European Union which establishes the promotion of human rights as an objective of the common foreign and security policy

- Having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) of 1966

- Having regard to the UN Convention against Torture of 1984

- Having regard to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrants Workers and Members of their family of 1993

- Having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948

- Having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure

A. Whereas the European Union and Egypt signed in March 2007 a European Neighbourhood Policy Joint Action Plan which sets out priorities among which particular attention should be given notably to the enhancing of the effectiveness of institutions entrusted with strengthening democracy and the rule of law and the promotion of human rights in all its aspects;

B. Whereas negative human rights developments have been reported in the past months and new measures reducing the already limited human rights protection have been taken by the Egyptian government which contradict the human rights commitments enshrined in the Action Plan;

C. Whereas the Egyptian government amended the constitution in 2007 in a way which further restricts the exercise of fundamental rights; recalling, at the same time, that the government extended the state of emergency in April 2006 for another two years and that the Emergency Law continues to be used to justify practices and abuses which deny fundamental freedoms such as freedom of expression, assembly and association as well as safeguards for fair trial;

D. Whereas the Egyptian government has multiplied restrictive measures on freedom of association by closing down the Center for Trade Union and Worker's Services (CTUWS) on 25 April 2007 and the Association for Human rights Legal Aid (AHRLA) on 16 September 2007; whereas, at the same time, the Ministry of Social Solidarity is planning to amend the current Law on Associations which would enforce administrative restrictions on NGOs and further limit the ability of NGOs to receive funding;

E. Whereas recent months have also seen serious infringements of the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of the press notably through continuous harassment and charges against private media; recalling, in this respect, that current provisions of the Penal Code allow criminal prosecution for defamation;

F. Whereas torture is considered as systematic in prison and detention facilities and stressing the government's failure to hold accountable those responsible; whereas Egyptian human rights organizations report that since the beginning of 2007, there have been allegations of at least 30 cases of torture and 6 deaths in custody;

G. Whereas several cases of killings, by Egyptian security forces, of migrants and asylum seekers, at the border area between Egypt and Israel were reported; noting, in this respect, that no decision has been taken to investigate these crimes and recalling that the killings of 27 Sudanese asylum seekers during a demonstration in Cairo in December 2005 still remain unpunished;

1. Expresses its grave concern about the deterioration of the human rights situation in Egypt since the European Union and Egypt signed an ENP Joint Action Plan in March 2007;

2. Takes the view that the negative human rights developments as well as the measures