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Egypt slams European criticism of human rights record

January 16, 2015 at 12:28 pm

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry slammed a European Parliament report criticising the country’s human rights record and calling for the release of 167 members of the dissolved parliament.

In a statement, the ministry claimed that the report included a series of allegations and incorrect information which reflects the lack of awareness of the reality of the situation in Egypt.

The report “does not serve to support bilateral relations between Egypt and the European Union”, the ministry said.

The statement claimed the European Parliament’s approach does not take into account the cultural, religious and social characteristics of the Egyptian society which stirs Egyptian public opinion because they insist on imposing values that are foreign to Egyptian society, including the rights of homosexuals, abolishing the death penalty and allowing offending religions under the cover of freedom of expression.

Yesterday, the European Parliament issued a decision calling on Egypt to release all political detainees, including members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the group to which ousted President Mohamed Morsi belongs.

The decision also called for “putting an end to all violent activities against opposition politicians, demonstrators, journalists, bloggers, students, women right activists, civil community representatives and minorities.”