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<p>There are no reliable figures on the number of persons currently detained in Egypt
without charge or trial as the Egyptian authorities do not publish this data. The
2013 US State Department Human Rights report suggests that there are as many as 2,000
pre-trial detainees. In August 2013 the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth
Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), called for
the release of all political detainees unless there are criminal charges to be laid
against them, and emphasised that it is vital that any charges are not politically
motivated. In his statement on 28 April he urged the Egyptian authorities to ensure
that human and legal rights are fully upheld in the country as a whole. On 5 June
the 28 Member States of the EU issued a statement calling on the Egyptian authorities
to ensure defendants' rights to a fair and timely trial based on clear charges and
to respect due process.</p>
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