US expresses concern over human rights violations in Egypt

The US State Department voiced its concern over the human rights climate in Egypt following a joint statement on Egypt by the UN Human Rights Council, co-signed by the US.

On Friday, 27 UN member states signed a UNHRC statement denouncing human rights abuses in Egypt under the interim military-installed authorities.

“For the first time UN member states have used the forum of the Human Rights Council to spotlight the abuses going on in Egypt. Egyptian authorities are now on notice that the international community will not ignore their crackdown on dissent and impunity for repeated, unlawful killings of protesters,” Julie de Rivero, Geneva director of HRC said.

US State Department Spokesperson, Jennifer Psaki told reporters Friday that “The statement also reflects a broad consensus that restrictions to peaceful assembly, association and expression run counter to Egypt’s pursuit of stability and democracy and that a free press is an essential pillar of any democratic society.”

The joint statement called for holding perpetrators of human rights abuses accountable, and called for releasing those unjustly detained for expressing their opinions.