Reactions to execution of 9 convicts of Attorney General goes viral on social media

CAIRO – 22 February 2019: A wave of controversial posts swept over social media after executing nine individuals accused with assassinating the country's top prosecutor Hesham Barakat in 2015. Several social media activists decided to share their experiences and opinions regarding executing the convicts.

Some of the activists discussed execution as a legal punishment of itself, others discussed the case and the final judgment and some of the outlawed Muslim brotherhood members even claimed that the whole case evidences are weak; however, one post for prosecutor called Ahmed Samy al Gamal, was widely shared by social media activists along with other Egyptian officials.

Commenting on the judgment that went into force, Wednesday, Feb. 20, Gamal said that he got the chance to meet with Barakat just once in his office; a memory that he recalls in his post with pride and grief.

“The truth is, if Barakat himself was here, living between us today, I doubt that would’ve liked the execution judgment; however, he is not.” Gamal said in his Facebook post.

He added that he only met with him (Barakat) once in his office and meanwhile, Barakat kept talking about justice and the hard work they should do with patience until reaching the whole truth; ‘even if it took years’.

Hesham Barakat's son denies sister's skeptical post, says account hacked

CAIRO - 21 February 2019: Prosecutor Mohamed Hesham Barakat, son of the assassinated general prosecutor, denied his sister published a post on her Facebook account calling for the "real murderers" of their father, saying that her account was hacked.

Gamal explained how he had to face similar reactions to several cases everyday due to the nature of his work. “Some days I hear families chant for justice of which they think judges brought to them; and in the following day others chant against the same judges for their judgment in others cases. I guess you can’t make everyone like you, regardless what you do for them.” He said.

“Unfortunately, I did not feel any sympathy with the executed convicts in the case of assassinating Barakat, and this is for many reasons; first, the case was investigated for four years, second, they confessed with everything they have done without forcing them, third, having tens of evidences which proves they are the real killers.” Gamal said.

Gamal added that “if the sympathy wave on social media came as a result of the convicts’ young age, then it’s not the judge to blame, it’s the terrorists who used them for their purposes.”

A video shows top prosecutor's killers making confession with no signs of torture

CAIRO - 20 February 2019: A video of the nine individuals involved in assassinating the country's top prosecutor Hesham Barakat in 2015 proves that the perpetrators gave a full confession to the police without any torture.

The executed individuals were convicted of bombing the convoy of late Hesham Barakat on June 15, 2015 during the holy month of Ramadan. Perpetrators were convicted of deliberate and premeditated killing, possession of prohibited weapons, and explosives acquisition.

The Court of Cassation upheld in November 2018 the death sentences against 10 convicts in the case, as it considered the appeals of 67 defendants.

The appealed rulings include death and life sentences as well as 10-year-terms in prison. On April 19, the Court of Cassation rejected appeals by 46 convicts in the same case upholding their enlistment as terrorists for three years.