- EGYPT
- October 10, 2017
- 4 minutes read
World Day Against Death Penalty: Politicians, Jurists Call for Moratorium on Executions in Egypt
Political leaders and human rights activists called for a moratorium on executions, especially against political opponents, in Egypt – lsince death sentences are farcical rulings not based on any law or evidence, and there are no guarantees of a fair trial.
Politicians and jurists at a press conference organized by the Stop Executions campaign in Istanbul today (Tuesday) said the Egyptian regime eliminates its opponents by murder, either by extrajudicial killings in the streets and homes, by slow death in prisons or detention centers, or by farcical sentences from courts that lack even the simplest guarantees of justice and integrity.
They also pointed that many death sentences were handed down against already dead citizens or children, which highlighted their absurdity and the lack of care of judges who hand down such sentences against hundreds of people in one short session.
They further said Egypt is at the very top of the list of countries passing the highest number of death sentences, with 1977 such sentences issued and 938 final death sentences against dissidents confirmed, the most recent of which was issued today against 8 in Helwan. Also, 16 more final capital punishment judgments against 16 opponents await execution at present, while 8 coup-opponents have already been executed.
Politicians and jurists called on all international organizations, especially the United Nations, and every fair-thinking person, inside or outside Egypt, to intervene to save the lives of these innocent people.
The conference was attended by Khalaf Bayoumi, President of Al-Shehab Center; and Osama Rushdi, member of the previous National Council for Human Rights, representing the Egyptian National Front; the journalist Gamal Al-Gamal; and Islam Al-Ghamri, representative of the Anti-Coup Pro-Legitimacy National Alliance; Qutb Al-Arabi, head of the Arab Observatory for Media Freedom; Ashraf Tawfik, Secretary-General of Najda for Human Rights organization; and May Wardani, representative of the Women Against the Coup.