Egypt Blasts UN Chief over Case of Rights Groups
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Egypt has blasted the UN chief for calling for a fair trial for two prominent rights activists accused of illegally receiving foreign funds for their NGOs.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid says in a statement Wednesday that comments by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon are an attempt to intimidate Egypt's judiciary and meddle in its affairs, according to AP.
A spokesman for Ban said in a statement Tuesday that he was "following closely" the government's legal case against NGOs over the foreign funds issue and that the two activists – Gamal Eid and Hossam Bahgat – should "benefit from all due process and fair trial standards."
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattahal-Sisi's government has placed restrictions on civil rights groups at a time when criticism is growing of the country's human rights record, particularly police abuse.
