Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the Egyptian government about the death of Shaimaa El-Sabbagh; and if he will make a statement.

We deplore the deaths in Egypt in recent days. We are deeply concerned by the use of deadly force against those demonstrating peacefully on 25 January. My rt hon friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shukri, on 27 January and conveyed his deep concern about the violence and the deaths, including that of Shaimaa El-Sabbagh. He urged that an independent investigation take place as soon as possible. I also raised these concerns with the Egyptian Ambassador on 27 January.

Egypt’s long-term stability and success requires protection of the rights that underpin peaceful politics, including accountability of the security forces and revision of the demonstrations law.