David Hearst: Review 'heavily weighed' in Egypt's favour

David Hearst, chief editor of Middle East Eye, has criticised the makeup of the UNHCR review panel, arguing that it could contain a heavy bias in favour of Egypt.

"Before the hearing starts the odds are heavily weighed against a session which could properly air the growing list of those [human rights] violations. The review will be led by three UN member states with close connections to [Egyptian Sisi’s regime.

"Saudi Arabia has been bankrolling post-coup Egypt. Montenegro has received billions of investments from the United Arab Emirates, the most active Gulf country in planning and executing the counter revolution to the Arab Spring in North Africa. And lastly Ivory Coast played a key role in reinstating the membership of Egypt in the African Union."

He also pointed out, however, that the review could still provide a mechanism for holding Egypt to account:

"Nevertheless, 47 other member states can make comments during the review and the HRC could put a resolution before all its members for a commission of inquiry as it did on Syria, North Korea and Palestine. Its a UN body that lacks teeth, but for all that Sisi is taking the hearing seriously because of the reputational damage it could do to him internationally."