The International Spectator - Death penalties highlight Egypt's legal war on Islamists
An Egyptian court’s sentencing of 529 people to death for rioting has fixed the spotlight on a massive legal war on the Islamist opposition, with thousands in prison and hundreds more convicted in mass trials.
Many of an estimated 15,000 suspects in prison are languishing without charges in overcrowded and filthy cells, rights lawyers say.
The ones who do manage to reach the courts, mostly accused of violence in the months after the army overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July, are usually convicted in quick trials, setting off a confusing and lengthy appeals process.
The 529 defendants sentenced Monday were accused of murder and attempted murder of several policemen.
The court passed sentence after only two hearings, without even ascertaining whether the defendants were present at the start of the trial, lawyers said.
The judgement will likely be overturned on appeal.
Rest of article here
An Egyptian court’s sentencing of 529 people to death for rioting has fixed the spotlight on a massive legal war on the Islamist opposition, with thousands in prison and hundreds more convicted in mass trials.
Many of an estimated 15,000 suspects in prison are languishing without charges in overcrowded and filthy cells, rights lawyers say.
The ones who do manage to reach the courts, mostly accused of violence in the months after the army overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July, are usually convicted in quick trials, setting off a confusing and lengthy appeals process.
The 529 defendants sentenced Monday were accused of murder and attempted murder of several policemen.
The court passed sentence after only two hearings, without even ascertaining whether the defendants were present at the start of the trial, lawyers said.
The judgement will likely be overturned on appeal.
Rest of article here
