British PM to meet Sisi

British Prime Minister Theresa May will join the long list of world leaders meeting military strongman and current President of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi at the UN General Assembly today.

The meeting comes amid growing concerns of human rights abuses in Egypt. On Saturday a court in Cairo ruled to freeze the assets of five award-winning human rights campaigners and lawyers after they were found guilty of receiving foreign cash and using it to harm national security.

Also read: Medical student latest victim in Egypt’s rising phenomenon of enforced disappearances

In July, Amnesty International reported that an average of three to four disappearances are taking place every day in Egypt though the figure is likely to be far higher given the level of intimidation directed at civil society groups, victims and families of the victims.

There was an international outcry last year when Al-Sisi visited then Prime Minister David Cameron in Downing Street to discuss stability and security, rather than human rights.

Today’s meeting coincides with a British military delegation’s visit to Cairo to discuss security concerns and cooperation in fighting terrorism.