Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of democracy stability in Egypt.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Egypt has made progress towards more democratic institutions through the passing of a new Constitution with better protection of rights and freedoms in 2014, the completion of Presidential elections in 2014 and Parliamentary elections in 2015. We welcome these steps and continue to support the Egyptian people's aspiration for a full and functioning democracy.
We also look to President Sisi and the Egyptian government to make more progress on human rights and freedoms. We remain concerned about detentions of political and civil society activists and journalists, deaths and reports of torture in police detention and prisons, and the continued narrowing of space for civil society to operate freely. A more open political environment with better protection of human rights is vital to Egypt's long term stability.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent progress the Government has made on its response to the murder of Giulio Regeni.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Government continues to monitor the investigation into Giulio Regeni’s death, and we note that an Egyptian delegation visited Rome 6-7 December to discuss the investigation with the Italian authorities. The Minister for the Middle East and Africa, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Egypt, and senior officials in London have raised Mr Regeni’s case with the Egyptian and Italian authorities, and the Prime Minister discussed the case with former Prime Minister Renzi. We stand ready to assist the Italian authorities in any further way we can.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether Faiz Mahmoud Ahmed Sherari was provided with consular assistance from the British Government during his recent detention in Israel.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Our Embassy in Tel Aviv has raised, and continues to raise, the detention of Mr Sharary with the Israeli authorities, most recently on 15 November. Consular officials continue to provide consular support to Mr Sharary and his family.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Israeli government on the recent detention of British citizen Faiz Mahmoud Ahmed Sherari.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Our Embassy in Tel Aviv has raised, and continues to raise, the detention of Mr Sharary with the Israeli authorities, most recently on 15 November. Consular officials continue to provide consular support to Mr Sharary and his family.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2016 to Question 47305, what recent discussions he has had with the Italian and Egyptian authorities on the murder of Giulio Regeni; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
In April 2016, in response to a public petition the Foreign and Commonwealth Office outlined the steps taken to encourage a full investigation into Giulio Regeni’s death. The response can be found at: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/120832. Since then, we have continued to offer our support to Italy and urge the Egyptian government to cooperate fully with the Italian investigators to bring Mr Regeni’s killers to justice as soon as possible. I continue to raise Mr Regeni's case with the Egyptian Ambassador to London, as do senior UK officials with their Egyptian counterparts. Her Majesty’s Ambassadors to Cairo and Rome have raised Mr Regeni’s case with the Egyptian and Italian authorities. The Prime Minister also discussed Mr Regeni’s case with Prime Minister Renzi in July.