The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) condemns the verdict issued on Monday 7 August in case no. 8473/2013, before Minya Criminal Court, commonly known as the “Storming Matai Police Station” case, in which 12 defendants were sentenced to death and 119 others were sentenced to life in prison, 110 of which are currently in detention, although not all were present in court.
Programs: Criminal Justice
The signatories condemn all violations of the rights of the defense, and the defendants' right to a fair trial, as stipulated in article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The forced disappearance of the defendants contravenes article 40 of Egypt’s Penal Code, which stipulates that, “No one shall be arrested or imprisoned except by an order of the competent authorities, and shall be treated in a manner that protects human dignity and may not be harmed physically or morally.”
EIPR reasserts that the increasing use of death sentences by the Egyptian state as a form of punishment in cases of terrorism or cases labeled as ‘political,’ following trials that do not meet the standards of a fair trial, is far from being a seemingly efficient method of facing violence.
7 Feb 2017
I.Checklist for Interaction with the Victim
1-Procedure
a. The Rapporteur determines whether the complaint falls within his mandate
b. Effort is made to verify the information and seek additional details if necessary
c. The Special Rapporteur reaches out to the Government of the State where the alleged violation is thought to have occurred
i.Urgent Appeals (for ongoing violations): Government urged to respond as soon as possible
In March 2014, a first-instance court in Minya issued a preliminary decision sentencing 529 people to death. In April of the same year, the same court issued a preliminary decision sentencing 683 people to death. Preliminary death sentences are not final until approved by the Mufti of Egypt and then the criminal court finally confirms them (while it still retains discretion to change the verdict after it has been approved by the Mufti).
The undersigned human rights organizations and political parties express their deep concern about the Egyptian authorities' intention to start investigations with the two judges Assem Abd al-Gabbar and Hesham Raouf, for allegedly engaging in polit
The Aqrab Prison has become the site of systematic violations that make it the worst prison in Egypt. Violations include medical neglect, excessive disciplinary penalties such as long-term solitary confinement, and the denial of family visits.
“Detention Without End,” a report that highlights the at least 1,464 people held in Egyptian prisons pending trial for periods that have exceeded the legal limit . Article 143 of the Code of Criminal Procedure sets a ceiling on pretrial detention of 18 months to 2 years in criminal cases.
The undersigned organizations fear that today’s final judgment forcing 32 judges into retirement, especially after a similar ruling was issued last week against 15 other judges (Judges for Egypt), will establish a new restriction on judges’ right to express their opinions, especially those that do not support the state administration.
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has decided to examine a case against the Republic of Sudan involving forced eviction
