“The Egyptian authorities should respond to this grave murder by taking immediate and effective measures to guarantee the independence of the judiciary, and establish the rule of law,” declared Karim Lahidji, FIDH President.
In May 2015, three judges were killed and two were injured in a criminal attack in North Sinai, after the recommendation of death sentences for deposed president Mohamed Morsy and other Muslim Brotherhood leaders. In the same month, an online petition signed by more than 100 Islamist scholars and organizations entitled “Nedaa Al-Kenana” called for the killing of judges. FIDH calls on the Egyptian authorities to guarantee the security of all judicial actors, and highlights that continuing to instrumentalize the judiciary to settle political scores has a devastating effect on state institutions, and has dramatic consequences on society as a whole, in particular after the increasing reports of incidents of violence perpetrated by individuals who claim to act in retaliation against the State’s repressive policies.
“Egyptian judicial actors must be free to conduct their work without any interference from the executive authorities, and without any threat of violence,” added Mr. Lahidji.
On 16 June 2015, more than 100 individuals were sentenced to death following unfair trials. According to Egyptian human rights organisations, more than 40,000 people are currently imprisoned, most of them arbitrarily detained due to their political affiliation and as a result of unfair trials. There are increasing reports of forced disappearances and individuals held in illegal detention centers without the supervision of the Public Prosecution. Systematic allegations of torture, including sexual violence, are not adequately investigated and impunity for human rights violations prevails. These allegations not only violate Egypt’s international human rights obligations, but also the rights enshrined in the 2014 Egyptian constitution.
“The respect for human rights and the rule of law should be at the heart of any counter-terrorism measures, as massive human rights violations committed by the State can only fuel the violence,” declared Amina Bouaych, FIDH Deputy Secretary General.
In the aftermath of the political violence that erupted after the military takeover in July 2013, more than one thousand civilians have been killed by security forces and hundreds of members of the Egyptian security and military forces have been killed in criminal attacks. All of these crimes constitute blatant violations of the fundamental right to life. However the fight against terrorism should not be used as a pretext by the authorities to perpetuate the violation of human rights, including the right to physical integrity, the rights of peaceful assembly, association, free expression, and the right to fair trial.