Parliament to request summons for UK Ambassador over Mariam's death

CAIRO – 20 March 2018: Egyptian MP Sherif el Wardany has challenged statements from the Nottinghamshire Police Force, highlighting that they show a clear “denial of responsibility.”

The police failed to interfere and rescue Mariam Moustafa, who had been assaulted in the street, and overlooked a previous incident in which she was attacked by two of the same assailants, Wardany told Egypt today on Tuesday. He questioned why the assailants were not arrested shortly after the incident.

Wardany, who also serves as the secretary of the Human Rights Parliamentary Committee, said that the committee is set to request that Speaker of the Parliament Ali Abdel Aal summons British Ambassador John Casson over the case.

He also said that the parliamentary delegation, which will be dispatched on Thursday to follow the investigations into the death of Mariam, also seeks answers over possible medical negligence in her case. He added that the parliamentary committee will hold meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriate Affairs, Nabila Makram, to discuss developments and future stances that should be taken concerning the case.

British newspapers, such as the Guardian, have reported that police investigations into the death of Moustafa revealed that the attack was not racially motivated.

Moustafa was born in Italy, and according to Italian local media Italy's prosecution has addressed its counterpart in the U.K. to join the investigation's proceedings.

The Italian Foreign Ministry described the crime as “brutal,” adding that the Italian Ambassador to the United Kingdom “is personally following the case in cooperation with the Egyptian counterpart.”

"In relation to the tragic case of compatriot Mariam Moustafa, brutally killed in Nottingham, we express our deep condolences and sympathy to her family, and additionally wish that those responsible for this atrocious crime are soon brought to justice," the Italian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

On Monday, British Ambassador to Egypt John Casson said during an interview with Egyptian satellite channel ON Live that the horrible assault on the Egyptian student is a crime against British values.

Addressing Moustafa’s family, Casson mourned the tragic loss of their daughter, calling the victim a promising student. Casson assured the family that the horrible crime will not pass unpunished and that justice will be served, adding that the British authorities are conducting a wide-scale investigation on the matter.

Also, the Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR) demanded joint investigations between the U.K. and Egypt into Moustafa’s death.

In a press release, the organization condemned the “heinous” crime, which came following a series of attacks that were recently carried out by right-wing extremists. One such attack, the Finsbury Park mosque attack, resulted in the death of a Muslim worshipper who was attending evening prayers during Ramadan, June 2017.

Previously, Moustafa’s mother posted a video on social media saying that her daughter is in critical condition as a result of the attack. She claimed that the assault was race-motivated, as her daughter didn't know the 10 girls who attacked her, and had never spoken with them before.

“Four months ago, two of the same 10 women abused my daughter in the street for no specific reason. We went to the police station and issued an official complaint; however, nothing happened,” Moustafa's mother said in the video.

She added that when the 10 women saw Moustafa in the street walking alone, they attacked her once again and dragged her about 20 meters.

“She managed to get up and run towards one of the buses, but they went after her and started to beat her again. Just one man tried to defend her, but no one else tried to interfere,” the mother said.

In late February, the 18-year-old engineering student was tragically attacked and put into a coma by 10 British women of African descent. The incident stirred condemnation from both the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and the British Embassy in Cairo.