European Parliament resolution on human rights violations in Egypt The European Parliament, - having regard to its previous resolutions on human rights in Egypt, in particular its resolutions of 14 June 2001, 4 July 2002 and 5 September 2002, having regard to its resolution of 29 November 2001 on the conclusion of an association agreement with Egypt, having regard to Article 2 of the EU-Egypt Euro-Mediterranean Agreement, now open for ratification by the parties, whereas in November 2002 the UN Committee for Human Rights issued several recommendations after having examined the periodic report by Egypt on its implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including a call for Egypt to 'refrain from sanctioning private sexual relations between consenting adults', having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Egypt is a party, A. whereas, following the retrial of 50 of the 52 gay men arrested in Cairo last year, on 15 March 2003 21 persons were sentenced to three years' imprisonment and forced labour, while 29 were acquitted, B. whereas the new sentences are generally harsher, since sentences for those originally convicted were extended to three years, the maximum sentence allowed under Egyptian law, C. whereas in recent months the Egyptian police has arrested many individuals suspected of being homosexuals, accusing them of debauchery, despite the fact that Egyptian law does not penalise any sexual orientation as a criminal offence, D. whereas many people have been arrested, and some remain in detention, on the basis of Egypt's state-of-emergency law after mass anti-war demonstrations in Cairo were quelled by the police, E. whereas a Greek citizen, Kostas Kastanias, remains in an Egyptian prison in very poor health and the Egyptian Government turned down the request by the EU Spanish Presidency that he be transferred to Greece, 1. Underlines the importance of Egypt and EU-Egypt relations for the stability and development of the Euro-Mediterranean area; 2. Stresses that respect for human rights, including freedom of information, speech and association, is a fundamental value enshrined in the EU-Egypt Association Agreement and reaffirms the importance of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership for promoting the rule of law and fundamental freedoms; 3. Is concerned at the conviction of a host of individuals in Egypt because of their sexual orientation and has confidence in the Egyptian courts that the judgment will be set aside; 4. Calls on the Egyptian authorities to call for a halt to all prosecutions of citizens on grounds of homosexuality and to protect their individual freedoms and insists that particular attention be paid to the issue of prohibiting discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation; 5. Asks the Commission and the Council to voice serious concern to the Egyptian authorities regarding the wave of arrests of homosexuals and the sentences handed down in March 2003 for the 21 Egyptian citizens and to follow closely any further developments in those cases; 6. Welcomes the decision of the Egyptian Court of Appeal to overthrow the verdict of the State Security Court and acquit human-rights activist Saad Eddin Ibrahim; 7. Urges Egyptian authorities to guarantee the right to collective peaceful expression and to prevent all forms of harassment against demonstrators and detainees and to ensure that persons held are given proper legal protection; 8. Draws attention to the Coptic Christian community in Egypt as an important minority which should be fully respected and represented in Egyptian society; 9. Urges the Egyptian authorities to allow, on humanitarian grounds, the transfer of Mr Kastanias to Greece, as requested during the EU Spanish Presidency; 10. Stresses that Article 2 of the Association Agreement includes a clause demanding that human rights and democratic principles be respected; 11. Urges the Council and the Commission, in this connection, to develop and strengthen democracy programmes for Egypt in the framework of the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights, with a view to supporting Egyptian civil society; 12. Instructs its Delegation for Relations with the Mashreq Countries to address the issue of human rights in Egypt at its next meeting with Egyptian parliamentarians and to involve representatives of civil society in the process; 13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States and the Government and Parliament of Egypt. |