Freedom and Justice Party calls on UN to investigate human rights crisis in Egypt

Senior members of the Egyptian Freedom and Justice Party arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, this week to urge the UN to establish a commission of inquiry into the human right situation in their country.

Dr Amr Darrag and Dr Yehia Hamed met State Members of the United Nations Human Rights Council to discuss the content of a report submitted to the Council on the human rights crisis in Egypt.

The report, which was prepared by London-based human rights law firm ITN Solicitors, details human rights violations, which include breaches of the right to life through the arbitrary use of the death penalty, unfair trials and the repressive use of force. Additionally it discusses the use of torture by government forces, the undermining of freedom of expression including the jailing of journalists and the violent and discriminatory treatment of women and minors which excludes the use of sexual violence.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Rodney Dixon QC, senior counsel to the FJP, said: “The Egyptian regime has continued to violate international law and its actions continue to fall far below international human rights standards. Widespread violations are documented in the report submitted to the UNHCR.”

Yehia Hamid, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood’s International Affairs Committee, said: “We thank members of the UNHRC who met with us to discuss the report. We found the meetings warm and productive. We look forward to building on the very important work we achieved in our private discussions with Members States.”

Tayab Ali, who leads the international legal team advising the Muslim Brotherhood and the Freedom and Justice Party, said: “The Human Rights Council should not tolerate the blatant flouting of its recommendations. Rather, the Human Rights Council should now take urgent action to rectify the current crisis in Egypt, which only adds instability in the region.”