§ Mr.DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Egyptian Government on bringing to justice those responsible for the deaths of 21 Christians in El-Khosheh in 2000. [185066]
§ Mr. RammellWe were deeply concerned by the sectarian violence in El-Khosheh in January 2001, which left 20 Christians and 1 Muslim dead. We have followed the case closely, and made our concerns known at the time. We were encouraged that the Prosecutor-General persistently sought judicial review of early judgements in the case, reflecting the authorities' concern that justice be done. We are concerned that this process seems, following a decision of the Court of Cassation last month, to be at an end. We will continue to make our concerns known to the appropriate authorities.