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GENEVA (Reuters) - Western countries on Friday called on Egypt to end the prosecution of activists, journalists and perceived political opponents under counter-terrorism laws, and to release them unconditionally.
The United States, which has observer status at the U.N. Human Rights Council, was among 31 signatories of the joint statement on Egypt, the first since 2014, which called on Cairo to lift curbs on freedoms of expression and assembly.
Egypt’s foreign ministry expressed “great surprise and disapproval” in reaction to the statement, which it said contained inaccurate information without proof.
Egypt is a close ally of the United States, but the Biden administration has vowed to speak out about human rights violations and abuses of the rule of law worldwide.
US, Canada and European countries express grave concerns over China s systematic human rights violations against Tibetans at UNHRC
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Egypt regrets UN criticism of its human rights conditions
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“I think there s been a reluctance to criticize Egypt publicly and collectively. [But] I think we re at a moment where the survival of the human rights community in Egypt is at stake.”
Kevin Whelan, Amnesty International
Until now, “I think there s been a reluctance to criticize Egypt publicly and collectively,” said Kevin Whelan, who represents Amnesty International at the UN in Geneva. But, “I think we re at a moment where the survival of the human rights community in Egypt is at stake.”
A strong message from the US
Activists hope Egypt has received the message that its partners abroad will no longer give it a pass, said Allison McManus, research director at the Washington, DC-based group, The Freedom Initiative. The organization represents some Egyptian Americans being detained in Egypt.
Egypt Must Stop Using Anti-Terror Laws to Silence Critics
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