British activists call on London to change its Egypt policy

British human rights activist Toby Kidman held the British Government responsible for the “coup path” taken by Egyptian interim leaders, and called on it to change its positions vis-à-vis the Egyptian military coup.

During a hearing session held at the British Parliament Wednesday, titled “the Political path in Egypt: is it viable under al-Sisi?”, Kidman, also an international criminal law expert, said that supporting a military regime ushered in by a military coup is equivalent to “congratulating” the coup leaders for their crimes. He added that the UK supported the wrong side of the conflict, and that it should change its position and help “correct the path” in Egypt.

Moreover, prominent human rights lawyer George Henry Beheer criticized the mass death sentences in Egypt, explaining their timing as a prelude to Sisi’s election as president. Beheer said he would launch a campaign in cooperation with Amnesty International, to lobby all awareness campaigns to condemn the verdicts and stop the “tragedy” before the Mufti ratifies the ruling in mid-June.

Prominent journalist David Hearst suggested that the only solution for the current deadlock in Egypt is the unity among the forces of January 25. He expected that the elections will witness massive violations, and that authorities will not allow observes to monitor the polls freely. Therefore, a strong human rights and media lobby is needed to document the violations.

Dr Maha Azzam, researcher at Chatham House, stressed that “the real enemy” is that which divides Egyptians and incites to infighting among them.

She added that “the Muslim Brothers are not terrorists,” and that they have a right to exist as a political party and to contest elections, so long as they respect the democratic process.

Azzam added that secular and liberal forces are partly to blame for the increasing polarisation among Egyptians.