Russ Feingold: “I would like to raise the important issue of human rights and democratic reform in our partnership with Egypt. I am very…”

“I would like to raise the important issue of human rights and democratic reform in our partnership with Egypt. I am very concerned by Egypt's recent extension of its emergency law--which has been in place continuously since 1981--yet again, for another 2 years. Since 2005, President Hosni Mubarak and his government have repeatedly pledged to end the use of the emergency law, but it continues to be extended. Although some changes were apparently announced with the extension, these were little more than cosmetic and will do nothing to improve the deeply repressive environment this law enables. Emergency laws, if they are ever appropriate, are intended for exceptional circumstances, not continuous application for decades. Furthermore, numerous concerns have been raised about violations of human rights and civil liberties under Egypt's emergency law. The extension also comes ahead of parliamentary and Presidential elections, which may see new challenges emerge to the leadership structure.”