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<p>The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for
Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) made a statement on 23 June expressing his concerns and
urging the Egyptian Government to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression
by reviewing this case as a matter of urgency.<br><br>The Egyptian Ambassador Ashraf
el-Kholy was summoned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on 23 June. FCO
Political Director, Simon Gass told the Egyptian Ambassador that the British Government
was deeply concerned by the verdicts, along with the procedural shortcomings seen
during the trials. The British Ambassador to Egypt raised this issue in Cairo with
the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 24 June.</p><p>British Ministers and diplomats
will continue to urge the Egyptian Government to demonstrate its commitment to freedom
of expression.</p>
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