Written question asked by Lord Judd (Labour) on Wednesday, 25 November 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 December 2020. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Wednesday, 9 December 2020 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Egypt: Detainees

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the signing of the Memoranda of Understanding by the Foreign Secretary and the Egyptian Foreign Minister on 6 November 2015, what representations they have made to the government of Egypt about its use of anti-terrorist charges against (1) Karim Ennarah, (2) Mohammed Basheer, and (3) Gasser Abdel Razeq; and what discussions they have had with that government about the evidence on which such charges are based.

Answer: We welcome the release of Gasser Abdel Razek, Karim Ennarah and Mohamed Basheer. The UK was clear from the outset that we had serious concerns about their arrest and detention, concerns shared by likeminded international partners. The Foreign Secretary raised the issue with his Egyptian counterpart on 19 November, the first Foreign Minister to do so. We continue to take a close interest in this case. We continue to have regular discussions with the Government of Egypt on human rights issues, raising concerns where we have them.

Secondary information