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Compiled By GayToday
Courtesy of the International Gay & Lesbian Association
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Brussels, Belgium--The European Parliament debated on Friday, adopting, as one of its
urgencies, a resolution on human rights violations in Egypt, titled: Human
rights: persecution of homosexuals in Egypt.
It is the Parliament's third Resolution on human rights in Egypt during the past year.
The resolution is a reaction to the ongoing human rights violation in Egypt and particularly
to the decision on opening a new trial for 50 of the 52 men arrested at a
Cairo gay nightclub last year. |
 Egyptian President Hosnai Mubarak |
The Parliament calls on the Egyptian authorities to call a halt to all
prosecution of citizens on the grounds of homosexuality and to protect their
individual freedoms, and stresses that particular attention must be paid to
prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
The beginning of a retrial and the Parliament's resolution of yesterday come
at a time where the adopted EU-Egypt Euro Mediterranean Agreement is open
for ratification by the parties.
The Parliament adopted in November 2001 a
resolution on the conclusion of the Association Agreement expressing deep
concern of the arrest, detention and trial of the 52 men on grounds relating
to their homosexuality and calling on Egyptian authorities to continue their
efforts to ensure greater respect for human rights.
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"The Association Agreement contains a human rights clause, but the European
Commission and Council have so far been reluctant to make use of such
clause" explains ILGA-Europe Co-Chair Kurt Krickler and continues "if the EU
proclamation on having a coherent approach in promoting human rights in the
world is to be taken seriously, it is time to put words into action and
start using the measures set out in the human rights clauses".
"The EU does not commit to its own human rights principles. If the EU
continues to set policies of trade and economic cooperation as higher
values, it sends the signal that the Egyptian authorities and authorities
like them can get away with ongoing and serious human rights violations"
adds Ailsa Spindler, Executive Director of ILGA-Europe.
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Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
Egyptian Prosecutors Told: Stop the Sham Trials
Egypt Arrests More Suspected Gay Males
55 Arrested in Cairo Discotheque: Charged with Satanism!
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