The Committee to Protect Journalists, along with 24 other human rights organisations, has implored the U.K. government to spearhead a collective statement addressing Egypt’s deteriorating human rights landscape. In a letter dated February 19, they urged Foreign Secretary David Lammy to take action before the upcoming 58th session of the U.N. Human Rights Council.
Concerns were raised over the ongoing repression in Egypt, including the suppression of dissent and the sustained arbitrary detention of thousands, notably journalists. Among the individuals highlighted is Alaa Abd el-Fattah, an Egyptian-British blogger, who remains imprisoned despite having completed a five-year sentence in September 2024.
The signatories articulated that a U.K.-led statement would deliver a potent message to Egypt’s authorities, underlining the urgent necessity for the release of Abd el-Fattah and the broader imperative to confront the intensified repression within the nation.
The Committee to Protect Journalists urges the U.K. to take the lead in a joint statement on Egypt’s human rights crisis before the U.N. Human Rights Council meeting. The letter highlights concerns over the government’s oppression and recent detentions, particularly of journalist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, stressing the need for urgent action to combat the crisis.
In summary, the call for the U.K. to lead a joint statement at the U.N. Human Rights Council encapsulates the pressing need to address Egypt’s escalating human rights abuses. Highlighting individual cases like that of Alaa Abd el-Fattah serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost associated with government oppression. The collective voice of organisaties underscores the significance of international intervention in combating these injustices.
Original Source: cpj.org
