Amnesty Concerned over French Arms Sales to Egypt

Amnesty International has voiced concern over France’s agreement to sell fighter planes and a frigate to Egypt, saying they could be used to commit rights violations in the North African country.

“The question we should ask is whether these planes will be used to commit violations of international humanitarian law or human rights…. we know that Egypt, with regards to its use of force, has not always been respectful of international law,” said Aymeric Elluin, head of advocacy at France Amnesty International, referring to an announcement of the sale on Thursday.

The 5.2 billion euro (USD 5.9 billion) deal reportedly includes 24 Rafale jets as well as a Fremm naval frigate and MBDA air-to-air missiles.

The human rights official went on to highlight Cairo’s use of French-built Sherpa vehicles to repress anti-government protests in Egypt in the recent past.

“So, the question we should ask ourselves today, bearing in mind what has happened in the past, will Egypt use these Rafale jets properly or not?” Elluin posited.

The development comes as Egypt has been the scene of massive anti-government protests with continuous clashes between security forces and supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi.

Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically-elected president, was ousted in July 2013 in a military coup led by Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the then head of the Egyptian army.

Rights groups say the army’s crackdown on the supporters of Morsi has left over 1,400 people dead and 22,000 arrested, while dozens have been sentenced to death in mass trials.

Source: Press TV