"Foreign and local forces have been trying their best in recent years to tarnish the image of Egypt in the area of human rights," said Shehab. "As a result the Egyptian delegation decided to go to Geneva, not to stand as defendants but because it is our duty to tell the world that Egypt has come a long way towards respecting human rights."

“If they intend to be tough on Iran, they should also be tough on Egypt. None of them made a general statement condemning the human rights situation overall in Egypt, as they did with Iran during its UPR review. There was also no mention by states of the detention of Muslim Brotherhood members — contrast this with the condemnation of peaceful dissent in Iran,” Hadj Sahroui commented.