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<p>I raised our human rights concerns with Ministerial interlocutors in the Egyptian
Government during my trade mission to Egypt in January. This included a wide-ranging
discussion with the Prime Minister of Egypt where I was clear that the UK Government
wanted to see the rule of law, transparency and respect for human rights strengthened
in Egypt. I also met the Minister of Defence and stressed the importance of taking
into account the social and economic development needs of the local population when
tackling genuine security threats in the Sinai.</p><p>I also regularly discuss human
rights with the Egyptian Ambassador in London. Most recently, on 4 February I raised
strong concerns about the case of 183 individuals who had their death sentences confirmed
by an Egyptian court. I stressed the importance of respecting the human rights of
defendants in all cases.</p><p>We continue to believe that stability and prosperity
in Egypt is dependent on open and inclusive politics and on full respect for the rights
contained in the Egyptian constitution. That is why in recent months Foreign and Commonwealth
Office Ministers have asked the Egyptian authorities to take action to release journalists
and political detainees who remain imprisoned, to review mass judicial decisions,
and to remove restrictions on civil society.</p>
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