Human Rights in Egypt

Hearing
Date:
Location:
2360 Rayburn House Office Building

Announcement

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on human rights violations in Egypt.

Alarming reports of widespread human rights abuses, political oppression, and religious persecution have been commonplace in the years following the Arab Spring of 2011, during the government of President Mohamed Morsi and since President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s taking of power in Egypt. In recent years, thousands of Egyptian citizens, including politicians, judges, and other civil servants, have reportedly been detained for political dissent, while others have been sentenced to death in mass trials that lack due process. Human rights groups have urged the U.S. Congress and the President to address the dismantling of free press in Egypt and warned that the fundamental human rights of Egyptian citizens are at risk.

This hearing will provide firsthand accounts of the oppression in Egypt as well as testimony and recommendations from panelists with expertise on human rights issues in Egypt.

The briefing is open to Members, Congressional staff, the public and the press. For any questions, please contact Carson Middleton (for Rep. Pitts) at 202-225-2411 or Carson.Middleton@mail.house.gov or Lindsey Herbel (for. Rep. Ellison) at 202-225-4755 or Lindsey.Herbel@mail.house.gov or Kimberly Stanton (for Rep. McGovern) at 202-225-3599 or Kimberly.Stanton@mail.house.gov.

Hosted by:

Joseph R. Pitts, M.C.
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Keith Ellison, M.C.
Executive Committee
TLHRC
James P. McGovern, M.C.
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Witnesses

Opening remarks

Witnesses

Panel I

  • Tom Malinowski, Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State

Panel II

  • Dr. Robert P. George, Chairman, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
    Written testimony

Panel III

  • Shadi Hamid, Senior Fellow, Center for Middle East Policy, The Brookings Institution
    Written testimony
  • Mohammed Soltan, Egyptian-American activist and former political prisoner
    Written testimony
  • Sarah Leah Whitson, Executive Director, Middle East and North Africa Division Human Rights Watch
    Written testimony
  • Daniel Calingaert, Executive Vice President, Freedom House
    Written testimony
Meeting Documents

Transcript

Transcript

Video

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Contact The Commission

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
4150 O'Neill House Office Building
200 C Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20515
United States of America

Phone: +1 (202) 225-3599
Fax: +1 (202) 226-6584
TLHRC@mail.house.gov

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.

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