Following the debate which took place on the same day, the European adopted by 47 votes to 0, with no abstentions, a resolution on Egypt, in particular the case of blogger Alaa Abd El-Fattah.
The text adopted in plenary was tabled as a joint resolution on behalf of the EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA, ECR, GUE/NGL and EFD Groups.
It urges the Egyptian Authorities to immediately release Mr Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who is in prison for refusing to answer questions relating to the events of 9 October 2011 put by the Military Court, on the Maspero clashes, which started with a peaceful demonstration for the rights of Coptic Christians, and where at least 25 Egyptian citizens were killed and more than 300 injured. It calls on the Egyptian authorities to guarantee that no blogger, journalist or human rights defender is subject to direct or indirect harassment or intimidation in the country, and notes that Mr Alaa Abd El-Fattah stated that he would only answer to an impartial civil court arguing that the Military Court did not have the legitimacy and jurisdiction to interrogate civilians.
Members strongly condemn the judicial harassment of Mr Alaa Abd El-Fattah by the military judicial authorities. They recall that human rights organisations report that more than 12 000 civilians have been tried before military tribunals since March 2011 in Egypt, and they repeat their call upon the SCAF to put an end without delay to the emergency law and to military trials of civilians, and to immediately release all prisoners of conscience and political prisoners held by military courts. Parliament stresses that civilians should not be prosecuted before military courts, which do not meet basic due process standards. It calls on the Egyptian authorities to guarantee impartial tribunals as referred to in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, and reiterates its call for an independent, thorough and transparent investigation into the Maspero clashes, which should be conducted by an independent and impartial civil judiciary, in order to hold all those responsible to account.
Lastly, the European Parliament reiterates its solidarity with the Egyptian people in this critical period of democratic transition in the country and continues to support their legitimate democratic aspirations. It calls on the Egyptian authorities to ensure full respect of all fundamental rights, including freedom of thought, freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, freedom of expression and of internet, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.