CAIRO: Members of the European Parliament (EP) called for an end to Egypt's emergency law and an end to military trials for civilians, according to a statement released last Monday. Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the Liberals and Democrats in the EP, said that an end to the emergency law is a requisite to free and fair democratic elections in Egypt. He has been a vocal advocate for Egypt over the last year. “It might have been necessary to maintain the emergency law for some time in order to avoid chaos after the revolution. However, now it is time to lift the law,” he explained. Verhofstadt went on to express concern over restricted media freedoms and the freedom of assembly in Egypt. “Free and democratic elections are not possible as long as there is no freedom of assembly and freedom of media. In a free and democratic country, harassing media and closing down media offices is unacceptable.” His comments refer to two attacks on the offices of al-Jazeera in Cairo last month, in which Egyptian authorities confiscated broadcast equipment, closing down the office. Edward McMillan-Scott, another parliamentarian, commented on Egypt's military trials for civilians. The trial of civilians in military courts has been a controversial issue for activists and rights groups in the country. “Despite Mubarak's rule, Egypt has been praised for its independent judicial system. The massive use of military courts, without the possibility of proper defense, is destroying this image. In a democracy people have the right of independent, civil courts and of a proper defense,” said McMillan-Scott. He also called upon the interim Egyptian government to release Michael Nabil, a blogger who is on a hunger strike while serving a three-year prison sentence. Nabil was sentenced for insulting the military in a blog post last April. Protesters in Egypt continue to demand that the SCAF end emergency law, end military trials, respect the freedom of expression and assembly, and amended election laws. BM
