Jen Psaki, Department Spokesperson,April 28, 2014:
-
"The United States is deeply concerned by
today’s Egyptian court actions related to another mass trial and
preliminary death sentences as well as the banning of the April 6 Youth
Movement activities. Today’s preliminary death sentences against 683
defendants and the upholding of death sentences against 37 defendants
from a March 25 decision are unconscionable.
As the Secretary has said, it is impossible to believe that such proceedings could satisfy even the most basic standards of justice, let alone meet Egypt’s obligations under international human rights law. We again urge Egyptian authorities to remedy the situation and reverse these court rulings and ensure due process for the accused on the merits of individual cases. We continue to urge the Egyptian Government to suspend future mass trials of Egyptians.
Today’s decision by a court of urgent matters to ban the activities of The April 6 Youth Movement is also troubling. Supporters of the movement were at the forefront of the January 25, 2011 revolution that overthrew former president Mubarak, and the Government of Egypt must allow for the peaceful political activism that the group practices if Egypt’s interim Government intends to transition to democracy, as it has committed itself to do.
These court decisions run counter to the most basic democratic principles and foster the instability, extremism, and radicalization that Egypt’s interim Government says it seeks to resolve. We urge the Egyptian Government to demonstrate - through actions rather than words - its support for the universal human rights and freedoms and democratic, accountable governance that the Egyptian people continue to demand."
[state.gov]
28/4/14
As the Secretary has said, it is impossible to believe that such proceedings could satisfy even the most basic standards of justice, let alone meet Egypt’s obligations under international human rights law. We again urge Egyptian authorities to remedy the situation and reverse these court rulings and ensure due process for the accused on the merits of individual cases. We continue to urge the Egyptian Government to suspend future mass trials of Egyptians.
Today’s decision by a court of urgent matters to ban the activities of The April 6 Youth Movement is also troubling. Supporters of the movement were at the forefront of the January 25, 2011 revolution that overthrew former president Mubarak, and the Government of Egypt must allow for the peaceful political activism that the group practices if Egypt’s interim Government intends to transition to democracy, as it has committed itself to do.
These court decisions run counter to the most basic democratic principles and foster the instability, extremism, and radicalization that Egypt’s interim Government says it seeks to resolve. We urge the Egyptian Government to demonstrate - through actions rather than words - its support for the universal human rights and freedoms and democratic, accountable governance that the Egyptian people continue to demand."
[state.gov]
28/4/14
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Egypt sentences 37 MB supporters to death....
ReplyDeleteAn Egyptian court has sentenced 37 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to death while recommending the death sentence for 682 others, judicial sources said, in a ruling that the United States urged should be reversed.
Attorney Ahmed Hefni told reporters outside the court in the southern city of Minya on Monday that the “recommended” death sentences for 682 Brotherhood supporters first have to be approved by Egypt's mufti, the top Islamic official - a step that is usually considered a formality.
The case is linked to deadly riots that erupted in Minya and elsewhere in Egypt after security forces violently disbanded sit-ins held by Brotherhood supporters in Cairo last August.
The same court also reversed 492 death sentences out of 529 it passed in March, commuting most of the death sentences to life in prison.
The court is seeking the death penalty for Mohammad Badie, the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s general guide, in a move that is tipped to raise tension in Egypt which has grappled with insecurity since the army ousted Islamist President Mohammad Mursi in July..............................http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/04/28/Egypt-sentences-37-Brotherhood-supporters-to-death.html
28/4/14