On March 10, 2016, a vast majority of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in Egypt and condemning the torture and assassination of Giulio Regeni, insisting on a swift, transparent and independent investigation.
The MEPs expressed their serious concern regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in Egypt, especially in light on the imminent threat of forced closure of El Nadeem Centre for the Management and Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence. They called on the Egyptian authorities to withdraw the travel bans issued against human rights defenders (HRDs) and for the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals detained and sentenced solely for exercising their right of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, including HRDs.
Over the past months, FIDH briefed the MEPs regarding the major crackdown experienced by Egyptian civil society and the fact that the country’s human rights record is the worst in its modern history. FIDH particularly insisted on the issue of travel bans issued against human rights defenders.