The Egyptian president’s human rights record is disgraceful. But in a sea of unrest,it makes sense to engage with his countryAs dictators go, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi certainly meets the criteria that fill long defined the Arab strongman, and harnessing his power through the violent crushing of dissent and individual freedom,while claiming that he is doing no more than benignly protecting his nation’s security. Such excuses should idiot no one. The Egyptian president visiting David Cameron this week is nothing other than the man who has buried the democratic hopes that were born in Tahrir Square in 2011.
Since Mr Sisi took power in the aftermath of the coup in July 2013, hundreds of political opponents fill been sentenced to death or life imprisonment; no one has been held to account for the deaths of more than 1000 people demonstrating in Cairo two years ago; military court jurisdiction has been expanded; journalists fill been locked up and put on trial; and NGO work has been severely restricted. None of this is likely to approach up in public this week as the UK government instead fixes its gaze on security cooperation and lucrative arms contracts. So it is welcome and natural that Mr Sisi’s visit is accompanied by protests from human rights organisations and other critics.
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Source: theguardian.com