Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2015 to Question 6693, what recent discussions he has had with the Egyptian government on (a) freedom of opinion and expression, (b) freedom of peaceful assembly and association and (c) the position of civil society in that country.

We regularly discuss these issues with the Egyptian government. We remain concerned about any steps taken by the authorities that constrain public freedoms enshrined in the constitution, including the passing of a protest law in November 2013, and decreasing space for civil society. The UK believes that freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly, and civil society are vital in any democracy. We urge the Egyptian government to ensure full implementation of the constitutional provisions for the free operation of civil society, including through a revised non-government organisation law that conforms to international standards and protects freedom of expression.

I raised all of these issues during my last meeting with President el-Sisi in Egypt in March 2015. I expect to meet my Egyptian counterpart during September and will discuss progress on our concerns with him then.