Human Rights in Egypt

Summary Minutes of 20.01.2000 – Provisional Version

Human Rights in Egypt

B5-0052, 0066 and 0069/2000

Resolution of the European Parliament regarding the recent violence in Upper Egypt

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations from 1948, and specifically Article 18,

– having regard to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities,

– having regard to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe from 1995,

– having regard to the Barcelona Declaration adopted at the Euro-Mediterranean Conference on 27 and 28 November 1995,

– having regard to the cooperation agreement between the European Economic Community and the Arab Republic of Egypt dated 27 September 1978, which emphasizes the desire to strengthen their friendly relations within the framework of respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter,

A. concerned about the recent religious conflicts between Copts and Muslims in Egypt, which resulted in the deaths of over 20 Egyptian citizens on 1 and 2 January 2000 in several villages in Upper Egypt,

B. having noted that these acts of violence are a continuation of many attacks against Egyptian and foreign citizens, particularly in March 1992, as well as in February and then in August 1997, and that they can only hinder the harmonious economic and social development of the population of Egypt,

C. concerned that religious hatred leads to violence in many countries around the world,

D. having regard to the fact that one of the main objectives of the Barcelona Declaration is to strengthen democracy and respect for human rights, and that the Arab Republic of Egypt has signed this declaration,

E. having regard to the fact that the Egyptian constitution guarantees the absolute equality of rights and duties for all, as well as the free exercise of the rituals of each religion without discrimination,

1. acknowledges the efforts of the Egyptian government in combating zealotry and all forms of extremism; in this context, calls on Egypt to further enhance its vigilance regarding religious tolerance, respect for human rights, and the freedoms of minorities by launching a campaign against religious hatred and violence, and to consider initiatives aimed at abolishing the death penalty;

2. supports the efforts of the Egyptian government to strengthen national unity;

3. supports the efforts of the Egyptian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the events and calls on them to bring to justice those responsible for the violence; expresses satisfaction with the decision of the Egyptian government to compensate the citizens affected by these acts of violence;

4. calls on the Council, within the framework of the MEDA program, to foresee awareness-raising actions in support of democracy, human rights, and religious tolerance;

5. calls on the United Nations to promote tolerance among national and religious minorities worldwide;

6. mandates its President to transmit this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Egyptian government, and each of the Euro-Mediterranean partners.