Human Rights in Egypt are Poor, State Department Report

The U.S. Department of the State released the 2006 Human Rights Report. Egypt being a major U.S. ally has a lion's share, though regrettably not so positive one. Here are some bits and pieces from the report.

The government's respect for human rights remained poor, and serious abuses continued in many areas. The following human rights problems were reported:

• limitations on the right of citizens to change their government
• existence of the state of emergency, in place almost continuously since 1967
• torture and abuse of prisoners and detainees, including deaths in custody
• poor conditions in prisons and detention centers
• impunity
• arbitrary, sometimes mass, arrest and detention, including prolonged pretrial detention
• executive influence on the judiciary
• denial of fair public trial and lack of due process
• political prisoners
• restrictions on civil liberties--freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and association; some restrictions on freedom of religion
• corruption and lack of transparency

The full report on Egypt by the Department of the State can be read here.

Related:Egypt in Human Rights World Report 2006