Parliamentarians on bill to accelerate terror-related trials

CAIRO – 5 January 2018: Egyptian Lawmakers and members of the “National Center for Human Rights,” and “National Centre for Counterterrorism” demand the speed up of prosecutions in terrorism cases by allocating special courts.

MPs are currently working on a draft law to speed up the issuance of judgments on terrorism cases, which, according to MP Ghada Ajami, Deputy of Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee, will ensure that verdicts are delivered within 15 days.

“Perpetrators of terrorist incidents must be dealt with in a non-emotional manner by applying military trials to anyone found to be involved in issues related to national security or terrorist acts,” said MP Moustafa Bakry, a Member of the Constitutional and Legislative Committee of the House of Representatives.

MP Sobhi al-Dali, a Member of the Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives, agrees with the need for speedy trials and the execution of all those involved in terrorism cases. Dali is also calling for the trials to be open to allow Egyptians and the international community to witness Egypt’s fight against terrorism.

Ajami confirmed that she will attend a meeting with advisor Bahaa Abu Shaqa, Chairman of the Legislative and Constitutional Committee of the House of Representatives, to discuss the new amendments.

The law MPs are hoping to pass concerns civil courts, not military courts, and asserts that in case of a terrorism-related case, a special civil court is to study the case and announce the verdict within 15 days.

It should be noted that Egypt had executed 15 men, late December 2017, over charges of carrying out deadly attacks in the Sinai Peninsula, an area that has been witnessing a harsh wave of terrorism since the overthrow of former President Mohamed Morsi in 2014 following nationwide protests.

In November, unidentified militants targeted a mosque in Sinai, leaving 311 people dead and dozens injured, triggering Egyptian politicians and lawmakers to intensify counter-terrorism legislation.