Dutch member of the European Parliament, Marietje Schaake (D66/ALDE), is appalled by the life sentences handed down in a mass trial of 230 individuals by an Egyptian court today. All were tried in absentia, except prominent activist Ahmed Douma. The court also sentenced 39 juveniles in absentia to 10 years in jail.
Systematic suppression
Schaake: "This sentence is unprecedented, harsh and outrageous. It must be strongly protested by EU High Representative Mogherini. The EU must be loud and clear and ask for respect for human rights and due process. Egypt is too important a country to slide further in the wrong direction."
