United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced alarmed at
the news that another preliminary mass death sentence has been handed
down in Egypt, where more than 680 people were reportedly on trial, a
topic he will raise later this week in a meeting with the Egyptian
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nabil Fahmy.
Today's legal decision follows the 24 March conviction of 529
defendants on various charges, including membership of an unlawful
organisation (the Muslim Brotherhood), incitement to violence,
vandalism, unlawful gathering and the killing of one police officer. All
the charges relate to events in August 2013 after the Government of
President Mohamed Morsi was ousted.
"Verdicts that clearly appear not to meet basic fair trial standards,
particularly those which impose the death penalty, are likely to
undermine prospects for long-term stability," Mr. Ban's spokesperson
said in a statement.
The Secretary-General is also conscious of the regional and security
implications of such
Separately, the UN chief is concerned about a court case today
banning the activities of the 'April 6 Youth Movement' which mobilized
support for the ousting of Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and the unseating of
Mr. Morsi last year.
Mr. Ban "was disappointed that the appeals court on 7 April upheld
the jailing of three emblematic figures of the 2011 uprising, including
two founders of the youth movement," said his spokesperson.
Stressing respect for the independence of the judiciary, Mr. Ban and
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay had expressed concerns
before and after the law regulating protests was promulgated. They
warned that it could lead to serious breaches of the right to freedom of
peaceful assembly.
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