WPP: World's largest advertising company accused of 'whitewashing' Egypt's human rights record
Exclusive: Firm described how it organised conference which distracted media from reporting 'negative' news
The worlds largest advertising company has been accused of whitewashing Egypts record on human rights after describing how it organised a major economics conference which distracted the global media from reporting negative news about the country.
WPP, the UK-based multinational communications firm founded by Sir Martin Sorrell, played a key role in the Egypt Economic Development Conference (EEDC), which was attended by 30 heads of state and featured addresses from high profile speakers including Tony Blair.
According to a case study document published on WPPs website, the conference resulted in the successful rebranding of Egypt and built confidence in the regime of Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, who rose to power following the armys overthrow of Mohammed Morsi in 2013.
Almost 600 people have been sentenced to death in Egypt since the beginning of last year, with the vast majority of cases involving those who attended pro-democracy protests. The country has also seen a disturbing rise in the number of executions and use of mass trials under the al-Sisi regime, according to research by the human rights group Reprieve.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/wpp-worlds-largest-advertising-company-accused-of-whitewashing-egypts-human-rights-record-a6742821.html