"Stop Sisi" campaign gains traction in the UK

Sisi has been accused of being complicit in multiple human rights abuses in Egypt since he came to power after a military coup in 2013.

In an attempt to pressure the UK government into halting the Sisi visit, a coalition of different organisations have called for a protest outside 10 Downing Street, and have started an online petition against the visit.

The campaign is aptly named "Stop Sisi".

Green party MP, Natalie Bennet supporting the campaign [stopsisi]

On Tuesday the Guardian published an open letter urging the government to cancel the upcoming visit. The signatories include prominent MPs, Diane Abbot, Caroline Lucas and John Mcdonnel, as well as academics, journalists and activists.

"I'm British and proud to be British, but I'm ashamed of my government's stance in supporting a dictator who has killed thousands of people", said Fatima Said, 21, a volunteer for the campaign in the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London.

"Over 3000 dead and over 41,000 imprisoned, from all political backgrounds and walks of life. We don't want our government to give a blank check to dictators," she said.

Students from SOAS who had signed the petition [stopsisi]

Although the campaign persuaded many to sign the online petition in SOAS, there was concern from the volunteers that a few of the students knew who Sisi was; one student who read a campaign leaflet upside-down thought the campaign was an attempt to "Stop ISIS", referring to the Islamic State group.

Accordingly, the campaign also aims to raise public awareness within the UK about the human rights abuses in Egypt, and has established a website in order to increase public awareness about the Egyptian President's human rights abuses.

"We have no political affiliations - we have one aim - to stop Sisi", said Sameh Shafi, a co-ordinator for the campaign.

"He's done nothing but divide and destroy the country. The founding basis of the campaign is to stop him," Shafi added, citing the reports of human rights abuses by international rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights watch.

As well as referencing the figures of those killed and imprisoned by the Egyptian government, Shafi also cited the "appalling situation for the students imprisoned for demonstrating" as examples of the regime's abuse.

"Eastenders" actor supporting the campaign [stopsisi]

"As a British action team, all we've been concentrating on is stopping his visit", he said. "How can you invite someone like that who's killing his own people as we speak."

"We are upset about his visit to the UK and being treated like a recognised statesmen coming to the UK," he added.

The groups affiliated with the campaign cross through various political stances and include the Stop the War Coalition, the Egyptian Revolutionary Council, the Muslim Association of Britain, the Egyptian Solidarity Initiative and the 6th of April Movement.

It's a tragedy for humanity, not just for Egyptians

The Stop the War Coalition has a strong anti-Western interventionist stance towards the conflict in Syria, leading to some accusing the organisation of having sympathies with the Assad regime, who is broadly supported by Sisi.

Although this has lead to some concern among supporters of the "Stop Sisi" campaign, Shafi feels that these differing groups can unite over opposition towards the Egyptian President.

"We have no political affiliation - we have one aim - to stop Sisi," he said, adding: "There are many splits in Egypt, people are dispersed between many different political groups."

"We've taken ourselves away from any politics, while I may disagree with some people on the the campaign, many of the factions disagree with each other... but we agree on one thing. We have a common ground on one issue and on that issue we will stand together."

The UK has been seeking to boost trade cooperation with Egypt, investing $5 billion in the country last year, and has increased arms sales to the country following the military coup.

In 2014, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, urged Sisi to ensure human rights are respected in his fight against militants.

Support from members of the public [stopsisi]

"By presenting himself as the bulwark of security and stability, Western Governments have been willing to turn a blind eye to Sisi's abuses.

"In reality, security in Egypt has deteriorated under his rule. His determination to eliminate moderate political opponents is feeding into the growth of violent extremism," read a statement by the Egypt solidarity initiative.

The groups also highlighted how Egyptian policy has adversely impacted Palestinians living in the neighbouring Gaza strip.

"The Egyptian border should be their refuge, but instead they're flooding the tunnels with salt water", said Shafi, referring to Egypt's destruction of the smuggling tunnels to Gaza, a lifeline to the beseiged residents, purportedly to make way for a fish-farm.

"It's a tragedy for humanity not just Egyptians," he said.