SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Indian tourist arrivals to Egypt jump 18.8% in H1-2025: ministry data    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Rights groups condemn jurisdiction of military courts
Published in Daily News Egypt on 31 - 10 - 2014

A group of 15 independent rights organisations expressed "extreme concern" over a presidential decree that subjects a large number of public establishments to the mandate of military facilities, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) said in a statement on Thursday night.
The groups, which include the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, Nara for Feminist Studies, and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, also warned "against the consequences of undermining the civilian justice system under the pretext of combating terrorism."
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi issued law No. 136/2014 on 27 October, granting the military judiciary greater authority.
As of now, public buildings and facilities including "electricity networks and stations, gas pipes, oil fields, railways, road and bridge networks, as well as other buildings, utilities and public property and anything that is considered as such," is under the "security and protection" of the military judiciary.
Through this provision, the military can send any civilian accused of vandalising public property or blocking public roads for trial in a military court.
According to the CIHRS statement, these charges are often levelled against anti-government protestors. As this decree expands the jurisdiction of military courts, it "seriously jeopardises citizens' right to fair trials and further aggravates the current crisis of the Egyptian justice system."
For example, the groups stated that, since 30 June 2013, civilians accused of terrorism-related offences have faced trials in Suez, Ismailia, and Hikestep military courts and have been detained in military prisons where they allege that torture and other degrading treatment took place during arrest or in custody.
Lawyers say that the Ismailia military court alone reviews between 40 and 140 misdemeanour cases involving civilians three times a week, and 20 to 45 weekly felony cases.
Military trials are held in maximum security military establishments inaccessible to defendants' lawyers and families, undermining their rights to adequate defence. Many defendants claim to have signed confessions whilst under torture.


Clic here to read the story from its source.