A group of 24 MEPs, led by Ilaria Salis (The Left) and including members from S&D, Verts/ALE, Renew, and NI groups, has submitted a parliamentary question to the EU's foreign policy chief on 9 June 2026, demanding urgent action to protect Italian citizen Nessy Guerra and her minor daughter in Egypt. Guerra was sentenced on appeal to six months in prison with compulsory labour for alleged adultery, after she had reported domestic violence, threats, and coercive behaviour by her ex-husband. The MEPs also flag that the daughter is subject to a travel ban preventing her return to Italy.
The question asks whether the High Representative is aware of the case and in contact with Italian and Egyptian authorities, what concrete steps are being taken to monitor judicial proceedings and ensure fair trial standards and protection for women victims of violence, and what actions the EEAS can take to support Guerra and safeguard her daughter's best interests. The MEPs frame the case as a serious fundamental rights concern, linking it to broader EU commitments on gender-based violence and child protection.
No prior coverage of this case exists in the available record. The question does not set specific deadlines but calls for immediate diplomatic and consular engagement. Under EU rules, the High Representative is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; the answer will signal the EU's willingness to intervene in a third-country judicial matter involving a citizen and her child, and may indicate whether the EU Delegation in Cairo has already taken steps or plans to raise the case with Egyptian authorities.
The case impacts EU citizens' safety abroad, particularly women facing legal systems with restrictive gender norms; EU diplomatic credibility in defending fundamental rights; the Italian government's consular responsibility; and the EU-Egypt relationship, where judicial cooperation and human rights are sensitive topics.