Help end unfair trials in Egypt
One year on, the “25 January Revolution”, it seems further away than ever.
Last February, military police and soldiers beat up Amr Abdallah Al-Beheiry
and arrested him at a protest in Cairo. Days later, a military court
sentenced him to five years in prison for assaulting a public officer
and breaking the curfew. Amr Abdallah Al-Beheiry had no chance of a fair
trial. His hearing lasted just minutes. The court didn’t allow his
family or lawyer into the room. Instead, it chose its own lawyer to
defend him. Now, a military appeals court has said Amr Abdallah
Al-Beheiry will be retried – by another military court.
As for Maikel Nabil Sanad, the army is toying with his life. He has already served 10 months in jail for criticizing the army. His family’s hopes were dashed when he was not released in spite of an official announcement. He should never have been sentenced in the first place.
Since
the uprising, military courts have tried about 12,000 cases and
convicted an estimated 8,000 ordinary Egyptians for crimes like
“thuggery” or “breaking curfew”. The cases of Amr Abdallah Al-Beheiry
and Maikel Nabil Sanad are two of those. Military courts have even
sentenced people to death.
Call on the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to end military trials of civilians.
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Egyptian Uprising: Maspero on Mubarak's Last Day © Omar Robert Hamilton
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Egypt’s military rulers have said
they will release nearly 2,000 people locked up after military trials.
However, they have not said how many will be left behind bars. Military
courts can’t deliver justice. It’s time to put a stop such trials once
and for all.
P.S. Do you have friends who also care about human rights? Why not invite them to become a part of Amnesty International as an International member?
In Solidarity,
Online Communities Team
Alaphia, Buddha, El-Mutamid and Franziska
Alaphia, Buddha, El-Mutamid and Franziska
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