Egypt's ambassador to the United Nations, Amr Ramadan, has expressed his country's concern at "the acute deterioration of human rights in Turkey," state news agency MENA reported. Ramadan's comment on Tuesday came during the UN Human Rights Council's review of human rights in Turkey. The Egyptian delegation's statement in Geneva conveyed concerns at "Turkish policies outside its borders that lead to human rights abuses in other countries." The delegation called on the Turkish government to halt this policy "including political, financial, military and logistical support," a reference to Ankara's hosting of members of the Muslim Brotherhood who fled a crackdown in Egypt. Cairo and Ankara have witnessed strained relations since the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi last year and open criticism by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who referred to Morsi's removal as a "coup." Diplomatic relations between the two countries were nearly destroyed in November 2013, as both countries expelled their ambassadors and replaced them with charge d'affairs. Ramadan has also wondered about the contradiction in Turkey's stances as it leads international initiatives for the right of peaceful demonstrations while its security forces kill, injure and arrest peaceful demonstrators. The statement condemned the Turkish forces' impunity for a pattern of "illegal use of deadly force." "Turkey leads the international debate about freedom of expression on the internet, while it closes access to Twitter and YouTube," the statement added. Referring to the number of jailed journalists in Turkey, the highest on an international level, Egypt's delegation called for the release of reporters and activists jailed for political reasons. In a similar UN review of Egypt's human rights status in November, Turkey -- among other countries -- presented harsh criticism of Egypt's protest law, the crackdown on Morsi supporters that has killed hundreds and jailed thousands, detainees and a new suggested law regulating NGOs. Source: Ahram Online
