Freedom of expression in Egypt - Amjad Bashir MEP

Summary

The speaker recounts a visit to Egypt before the Arab Spring, noting the stark contrast with the current state of unrest. They express concern over the military's role in suppressing peaceful demonstrations for democracy and freedom, resulting in deaths and detentions. The speaker calls for respect for the people's will and urges the British Foreign Minister to condemn the treatment of innocent Egyptians engaged in peaceful protests, emphasizing the importance of democratic principles like freedom of expression and the right to assemble.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The speaker and their spouse visited Egypt before the Arab Spring, experiencing a time of happiness and safety among the Egyptian people.
• 📉 The situation in Egypt has deteriorated since the Arab Spring, with a decline in the quality of life for ordinary citizens.
• 🗣️ The Arab Spring brought forth peaceful demonstrations in Tahrir Square, expressing desires for democracy and freedom.
• 🛡️ The military dictatorship in Egypt has suppressed these democratic aspirations, resulting in significant loss of life and mass detentions.
• 🏛️ The role of the army, as per the speaker, should be to protect the nation, not to harm its own people.
• 🏢 Recent legal actions have seen harsh sentences, including life imprisonment and death sentences, handed down to protesters.
• 🗳️ The speaker emphasizes the importance of respecting the will of the people and criticizes instances where democratic outcomes have been ignored.
• 🇪🇺 The speaker cites examples of democratic decisions being overridden, such as the Danish referendum on the Maastricht Treaty and the rejections of the EU constitution by France and the Netherlands.
• 📬 The speaker intends to address the British Foreign Minister, urging strong condemnation of the treatment of peaceful Egyptian protesters.
• 🌟 The speaker hopes this will be an early achievement for the new minister, highlighting the importance of democratic principles, especially freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly.
• 🕊️ The closing remarks by the speaker advocate for respect for democratic principles and peaceful protest, ending with a note of admiration for the courage of the Egyptian people.

Q & A

What was the speaker's experience in Egypt before the Arab Spring?

The speaker and their spouse visited Egypt before the Arab Spring and had a wonderful time, noting that the people seemed happy and content, and they were able to travel safely.

How has the situation in Egypt changed since the Arab Spring according to the speaker?

The situation in Egypt has changed for the worse, with the speaker highlighting that ordinary Egyptians are now denied the opportunity to earn a decent living.

What freedoms were expressed during the peaceful demonstrations in Tahrir Square?

The freedoms expressed during the peaceful demonstrations in Tahrir Square were democracy and freedom.

How did the military dictatorship respond to the peaceful demonstrations for democracy and freedom?

The military dictatorship crushed the hopes of the demonstrators, killing almost 72 people in a single day and leading to thousands of detentions.

What is the speaker's view on the role of the army in relation to its citizens?

The speaker believes that the role of the army is to defend the nation, not to kill its own citizens.

What recent legal actions were mentioned in the script regarding the treatment of protesters?

The script mentions that 46 life sentences and 10 death sentences were handed down, with several more court cases pending.

What was the outcome for the supporters of the previously democratically elected government?

Supporters of the previously democratically elected government were sentenced to three years each of imprisonment.

What is the speaker's stance on respecting the will of the people?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of respecting the will of the people, knowing that Parliament does not always support democracy.

Can you provide an example of when the Parliament did not support democracy as mentioned by the speaker?

The speaker cites the Danish referendum on the Maastricht Treaty being ignored and the French and Dutch rejections of the EU constitution being swept aside as examples of Parliament not supporting democracy.

What action does the speaker intend to take regarding the treatment of Egyptians engaged in peaceful demonstrations?

The speaker intends to write to the British Foreign Minister to urge him to express the strongest terms of disgust at the treatment of innocent Egyptians engaged in peaceful demonstrations.

What democratic principles does the speaker hope will be respected in the treatment of protesters?

The speaker hopes that democratic principles, especially freedom of expression and the right to assemble peacefully, will be respected.