WRITTEN QUESTION E-1995/00

by Cecilia Malmström (ELDR) to the Council

(21 June 2000)

Subject: Coptic minority in Egypt

Egypt's Christian minority continues to suffer from societal discrimination as well as occasional outbreaks of violent persecution. Some forms of discrimination are enshrined in unjust legal provisions, such as the outmoded Hamayouni Decree which still requires Christian congregations to submit petitions for the building of new churches to the President. Others are merely the result of government practice, for example the omission of the Coptic era of Egyptian history from the school curriculum and the inadequate representation of Copts at senior levels of government.

Is the Council aware of the suffering of Egypt's Coptic minority and of the denial of genuine religious freedom in that country? What representations does it intend to make to the Egyptian authorities on this subject as part of the Euro-Mediterranean process?

Reply

(20 November 2000)

1. The outbreak of sectarian violence and murder suffered by the Coptic community in Upper Egypt, especially in El-Khosheh, has been discussed several times by Council bodies, which are continuing to monitor the situation closely. The Council is aware of the fact that, as is the case for all other religious communities, under Law No 40 of 1977, Copts are denied the right to form their own political parties. Moreover, the Council is aware of the 1980 amendment to the Egyptian Constitution and have taken note of the fact that the 1981 Emergency Law is often invoked in arrests.

2. As one of the 27 signatories to the Barcelona declaration, Egypt has committed itself to observing a number of principles in the area of human rights, most notably the following: to act in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as other obligations under international law; to develop the rule of law and democracy in its political system; to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and guarantee the effective, legitimate exercise of such rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression, freedom of association for peaceful purposes and freedom of thought, conscience and religion, both individually and together with other members of the same group, without any discrimination on grounds of race, nationality, language, religion or sex, and to respect and ensure respect for diversity and pluralism in its society, and promote tolerance between different groups in society. The Euro-Mediterranean Charter on Peace and Stability, which is still being drafter, could include some of these principles and, if adopted at the fourth Ministerial Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Marseilles in November, would further emphasise the importance of respect for human rights and democracy.

3. The other main framework for discussion on progress of human rights and democracy is that formed by the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements. These provide that respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights constitutes an essential element of the agreements. Negotiations on a Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement with Egypt were concluded last year, and the Agreement is expected to be signed in the very near future. Once in force, the Agreement should institutionalise political dialogue between the European Union and Egypt, especially on the subject of human rights. Article2 of the future Agreement stipulates that the relations between the parties, as well as all the provisions of the Agreement itself, shall be based on respect of democratic principles and fundamental human rights, as set out in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, which guides their internal and international policy. Even before the Association Agreement with Egypt is in force, the EU will continue to take every opportunity at different levels to remind Egypt of its concern about the human rights situation and of the need to respect fundamental freedoms. Most recently, the Union has voiced serious concern to the Egyptian authorities regarding the arrest of Dr Saadeddin Ibrahim.