The Egyptian Initiative for the Personal Rights expressed its concern about the Higher Military Court's decision to executing four persons – including one minor - for kidnapping and raping a girl. In a statement on Tuesday, the human rights organization refused the sentence of death by hanging for the minor, 17 years old. His sentencing contradicts the Egyptian Child Law, the Code of Military Justice, and International Law. According to the declaration, the Article 111 of the Child Law states: “A defendant under the age of 18 at the time of the commission of the crime shall not be sentenced to death, life imprisonment or imprisonment with hard labor.” The ruling also contravenes Article 8 of the Code of Military Justice, which says no minor may be tried before a military court. EIPR demanded that the death sentence against the minor, identified as ‘A.M.M.,' be reviewed on the basis of being illegal under the previously mentioned codes, and also called to re-prosecute the accused before a civilian court. It also called for the immediate suspension of all military trials for civilians.
