UN Human Rights Chief Praises Popular Uprising in Egypt

Speaking from her Geneva headquarters this morning, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navi Pillay said she was very concerned by the death toll of innocent, unarmed civilians throughout Egypt, and demanded the government recognize human rights and democratic principles.

 “The authorities have a clear responsibility to protect civilians, including their right to life, and to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression,” she said. “People must not be arbitrarily detained, simply for protesting or for expressing their political opinions – however unwelcome those opinions may be to those in power.”

Some 3,000 people have been injured and hundreds arrested since the protests began last week. 

“Respect for human rights is fundamental to democracy,” she continued, “and it is therefore not surprising that large segments of the population are combining calls for their rights to be observed at the same time as they demand political change,” she added.