UNHR Chief’s remarks on death sentences in Egypt come without investigations

CAIRO – 11 September 2018: In an absurd, unprecedented move, United Nations Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet, who took office last week, called on Egypt’s appeals court on Sunday to overturn the death sentences given out to the 75 people over the 2013 sit-in.

Bachelet’s words, which came without any questions, notifications or enquires being sent to the Egyptian government and without prior notice to the government, spoke of an “unfair trial,” elaborating that if the sentences were to be carried out, they “would represent a gross and irreversible miscarriage of justice.”

Flying in the face of the free Egyptian courts and Egypt’s sovereignty, Bachelet explained that “the prosecution did not provide sufficient evidence to prove individual guilt,” continuing, “I hope that the Egyptian Court of Appeal will review this verdict and ensure that international standards of justice are respected by setting it aside.”

Without any studying of the cases or an investigation into the death sentences, Bachelet’s statements appear to lack grounds or evidence.

“Bachelet decried the “lethal military crackdown” saying it had led to the killing of “up to 900 mostly unarmed protesters by members of the Egyptian security forces”,” writes Reuters.

Although Bachelet admits that the Government stated that the crackdown came as a result of protestors being armed and that a number of police personnel lost their lives in the crackdown, she explains that someone should be held accountable for what she terms “Rabaa massacre”.

“Justice must apply to all – no one should be immune.”

Bachelet’s statements seem to have come without investigation or analysis of the events occurring on the ground during the Rabaa sit-in.

“I urge the Government of Egypt to ensure that justice will be done, according to law, in relation to any individuals – including members of the state security forces – who are suspected of committing a crime.” Once again. Bachelet’s words fly in the face of the sovereignty that Egypt holds and that international agreements have documented.

Without evidence and investigation teams on the ground, Bachelet’s statements lack neutrality, impartiality and unbias.

Responding to Bachelet’s remarks, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that Bachelet’s comments are influenced by “the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood lies.”

Egypt has not signed the international agreement to prevent the death penalty implementation; the United Nations recognizes Egypt’s right to implement this penalty.

Egypt has the right to choose and set its legal and judiciary systems according to the constitution approved in 1923 and in accordance with judiciary independence constitutional articles 94/2014.