The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, says that the Egyptian president’s visit to Downing Street threatens national security.
The Labour leader has criticised David Cameron for inviting Abdel Fatah al-Sisi to Britain, saying that it shows “contempt for human and democratic rights.”
He added that talks with a leader who overthrew a democratically elected president, Mohammed Mursi, threatens Britain’s “national security”.
In a statement Mr Corbyn said:Â “David Cameron’s invitation to Britain today of the Egyptian president and coup leader Abdel Fatah al Sisi shows contempt for human and democratic rights and threatens, rather than protects, Britain’s national security.”
It continues:Â “Support for dialogue and negotiated conflict resolution in the Middle East is vital to us all. But to welcome and bolster with military support the coup leader who overthrew a democratically elected president in 2013 and has presided over the killing and jailing of many thousands since makes a mockery of government claims to be promoting peace and justice in the region.
Support for dictatorial regimes in the Middle East has been a key factor fuelling the spread of terrorism. Rather than rolling out the red carpet to President Sisi, the Prime Minister should suspend arms exports to Egypt until democratic and civil rights are restored.”
