The hundreds of death sentences handed down today go against everything that we understand by the principles of the rule of law.

The Egyptian authorities are running the risk of further destabilising the country and cementing the division within politics and society in the run‑up to the presidential elections due to take place in May.

We will communicate the Federal Government’s clear expectation to the Egyptian Ambassador in a talk at the Federal Foreign Office that the sentences be reversed and the accused receive a fair trial.