Since July 2013 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have issued several press statements condemning the use of violence against protesters and calling on the security forces to act with restraint. Ministers have also made regular representations to the Egyptian government to state our concerns. Most recently, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), issued a press statement on 26 January expressing concern at the use of deadly force by the police against demonstrators in Egypt. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), also raised his concerns directly with the Egyptian Foreign Minister and pressed for an independent investigation into the deaths of Shaimaa El-Sabbagh and other demonstrators. President al-Sisi has publicly offered his condolences to Shaimaa El-Sabbagh\u2019s family, and the Minister of the Interior announced that an investigation is underway.<\/p>
We look forward to the publication of the full report of the Fact-Finding Committee investigation into the events of 30 June 2013. We have stressed that this report must be comprehensive, independent and lead to accountability for the deaths of protestors.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-02-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-02-12T14:26:31.69Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Egypt"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what representations they have made to the government of Egypt about unarmed and non-violent civilians reportedly killed by police and the military in Egypt since July 2013; what replies, if any, they have received; and in particular what assurances they have received that such deaths will be independently investigated and prevented in future.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL4680"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/105810", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/105810/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The British Government is concerned about reports of kidnapping in Egypt. We have been clear throughout recent events in Egypt that freedoms in the Egyptian constitution, including of religious belief, need to be protected as a vital component of a democratic society. Most recently, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), raised the need to protect human rights in their meeting with the Egyptian Foreign Minister on 27 October.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-11T16:10:46.2842658Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-11-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Egypt"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what representations they have made to the government of Egypt about recent kidnappings, in particular of women and children in central and upper Egypt, allegedly for forced conversion and marriage.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL2617"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/101735", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/101735/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK is at the forefront of the international response to the Syria crisis. The UK has already allocated £700 million to support internally displaced persons inside Syria and Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries, of which £2.3 million has been provided to Syrian refugees in Egypt in 2013/14. The UK Government has also been active in raising concerns on the treatment and detention of refugees and migrants within Egypt with the relevant authorities as well as providing diplomatic support to the work of UNHCR and other actors on these issues. The UK, through the tri-departmental Conflict Pool, is also supporting work to strengthen border management in the region.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
DFID is helping to address economic challenges in Egypt, promoting economic opportunities to reduce hardship. For example DFID is supporting job creation and economic reform through the £125m regional Arab Partnership programme. This has included working with young people and other marginalised groups on developing the skills and opportunities to find and create sustainable jobs.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2539", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Northover"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Northover"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-17T14:26:49.013Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Egypt"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what steps they are taking to mobilise international assistance for refugees and other migrants in Egypt.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL2544"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100007", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100007/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), asked that the Egyptian government address the large number of people being held in detention during his meeting with President Al-Sisi at the UN General Assembly in New York on 23 September. John Casson, our Ambassador in Cairo, discussed the recent university protests with Ahmed el-Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, on 14 October. The UK believes that freedom of expression, including the right to protest peacefully, is important in any democracy.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-28T16:36:00.7673786Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Egypt"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what representations they have made to the government of Egypt about recent arrests of students, and the placing of private security companies, on university campuses there.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL2222"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91872", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91872/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We have raised the importance of due legal process for detainees in Egypt with the Egyptian government on a number of occasions. Most recently, the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney, (Mr Cameron), raised the issue with President al-Sisi in September 2014. The Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge, (Mr Hammond), also raised his concerns with President al-Sisi during a visit to Cairo on 24 July, and Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East, (Mr Ellwood), raised concerns during his visit to Cairo on 25 August. We will continue to urge the Egyptian authorities to ensure that human and legal rights are fully upheld in all cases.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-13T13:19:19.7879517Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-09-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Egypt"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what representations they are making to the government of Egypt about (1) delays in bringing imprisoned suspects to trial, and (2) allegations of torture, solitary confinement and maltreatment, which have led to prolonged hunger strikes.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL1930"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62495", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62495/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
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>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3839", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Warsi"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Warsi"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-01T12:43:48.5215219Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Egypt"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have about the number of persons detained in Egypt without charge or trial; and whether they will make representations for a review process leading to the release of those not charged with civil or criminal offences.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL424"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 6, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }