The following statement published in the Guardian condemns the massacres perpetrated by Egypt’s military rulers and calls on Cameron to stop arms sales

We condemn the horrific violence and killing perpetrated by Egypt‘s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf). The massacre of hundreds of Egyptians by the army is clearly part of an attempt to destroy the Muslim Brotherhood as an effective political force, but it is also designed to entrench the power of an unelected military regime with roots that go back decades. The state of emergency has already been used against striking petroleum workers and their leaders detained.

It is a threat to all who stand for democracy in Egypt and challenges the democratic principles that united the movement that ousted President Mubarak back in 2011.

What is also shocking about Scaf’s violence, in addition to the devastating loss of life, is the UK’s continuing support for this repressive military regime.

Throughout the Mubarak era the government licensed the sale of arms to Egypt. Shortly after Mubarak fell, David Cameron travelled to Egyptwith representatives from BAE Systems, QinetiQ, Rolls-Royce and others to shore up new military contracts. Today, arms licences are intact that authorise the sale of military helicopters, communications technology, rifles and pistols.

Britain’s practical and economic support for the repression in Egypt should be seen within the context of the wider policy goals of Nato and the west. The United States’ supply of military aid, to the tune of $1.3bn, makes a mockery of President Obama’s and Prime Minister Cameron’s alleged support for the democratic aspirations of the people of the Middle East.

What inspired the world as it witnessed the Arab revolutions is the people’s struggle for self-determination and freedom. In pursuit of that aim we insist that Britain ends arms sales to the Egyptian military, that Scaf ends the state of emergency, that all banned TV stations be re-instated, that all political prisoners are freed and that the right of peaceful protest and assembly be upheld.

Tony Benn, Lindsey German Convenor, Stop the War Coalition, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Salma Yaqoob, Katy Clark MP, Owen Jones, Daud Abdullah Director, Middle East Monitor, Kate Hudson General secretary, CND, John Rees editorial board, Counterfire, Andrew Murray Deputy president, Stop the War, Ismail Patel Friends of Al Aqsa, Ian Chamberlain, Paul Mackney former general secretary, NATFHE/UCU, Professor Des Freedman

Reposted from the Guardian