Arab Parliament Denounces European Parliament’s Stance against Egypt

Arab Parliament Speaker Adel Abdul-Rahman Al-Asoumi voiced categorical rejection of the European Parliaments statements concerning Human Rights in Egypt, urging them to reconsider their stance and respect Egypt’s sovereignty.

Arab Parliament Supports Egypt

He also urged, in his statement, Europe to avoid politicizing the human rights issue and using it as a pretext to interfere in Egypt’s domestic affairs.

Al-Asoumi said the European Parliament’s statement contained “false allegations that are based on suspicious reports and false information,” in a “flagrant” violation against Egypt.

He also rejected the “unacceptable terms and arrogant tone” in the European Parliament’s statement, “in dealing with a major sovereign country like Egypt, which is a member of the United Nations.”

The Speaker called on the European Parliament to adopt a constructive approach to reach a mutual ground for positive dialogue with the Arab Parliament.

The Speaker also urged the European Parliament to be “at the level of responsibility and diplomacy” required by the common interests and strategic relations between the European Union and Arab states.

Egypt’s House of Representatives and Senate rebuked the European Parliament statement as well.

Brief Background on the Issue

Egyptian House of Representatives and Senate members have harshly denounced the statement issued last week by the European Parliament deploring the human rights situation in Egypt, arguing that the statement was based on groundless information.

The European Parliament last week said it deplores, once again and in the strongest possible terms, what it considered to be "the continued and intensifying crackdown" on fundamental rights and, among others, the "persecution" of human rights defenders, lawyers and civil society in Egypt.

The statement urged Egyptian authorities to drop all charges against senior Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) activists Gasser Abdel-Razek, Karim Ennarah and Mohamed Basheer, formerly arrested in Egypt and released on bail.