SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 10 October 2024, Thursday |

UN must stop politicised executions in Egypt, opposition groups say

The Egyptian National Action Group (ENAG), which includes opposition figures at home and abroad, called in a statement on the United Nations and the UN Security Council to put an end to politicised executions against oppositionists in Egypt.

The statement, of which the New Khaleej received a copy, said that death sentences against Egyptian dissidents were issued by specialised counter-terrorism courts that have been established in violation of Article 97 of the Constitution, and therefore lack constitutional and legal backing.

The statement also condemned the execution of nine innocent citizens in the case known in the media as the storming of the Kerdasa Police Station, adding that these exceptional trials lack all standards of justice.

The ENAG warned that “these politicised sentences aim to terrorise the people” and are a form of “state terrorism.”

The statement stressed the need for the international community to take action to force Egypt to stop executing oppositionists, especially in political cases, and intensify efforts, coordination and cooperation to stop arbitrary death sentences from being carried out.

On Monday, Egyptian authorities executed   a number of persons who opposed the 2013 military coup  lead by Defence Minister-turned President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, sparked a wave of controversy inside and outside the country.

Egyptian opposition figures announced the creation of the ENAG on 30 December 2019. It includes a group of politicians based inside and outside Egypt, who belong to various political parties.

A report published by Amnesty International last week revealed that there has been a 300 per cent rise in executions in Egypt.