CAIRO: Egypt’s public prosecutor has appealed against the mass death sentences issued by a provincial court, which had caused an international outcry, state media reported yesterday, in rare criticism by a senior member of the judiciary of a court ruling.
A court in April recommended the death sentence for the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and 682 supporters, and handed down a final capital punishment ruling for 37 others, alarming the United States, the United Nations and rights groups.
The 37 had initially been sentenced to death after a trial lasting only a few days. They were part of another group of 529 Muslim Brotherhood supporters, most of whom were jailed for life in the final sentencing.
“The appealed verdict (against) the convicted was marred by falsity, an infringement of the right to defend (oneself) and an error in applying the law,” state newspaper Al-Ahram quoted public prosecutor Hesham Barakat as saying with reference to the 37.
“It appears (to the public prosecutor) that the verdict is marred by flaws and (he) sees the appeal as a way to seek the rule of law which states that the accused is innocent until proven guilty in a legal trial which guarantees that he has the right to defend himself,” Al-Ahram said on its website.
It said the right to defend oneself must be given in a “practical” fashion, not just “theoretically”.
The appeal was also reported by state-run news agency MENA.
REUTERS
BRUSSELS: The European Union will not be able to monitor the Egyptian presidential election this month because Cairo has not given permission for it to bring essential security and safety equipment, an EU official said yesterday.
“Unfortunately, for administrative reasons, despite our best efforts and repeated requests, it proved impossible to have the telecommunication equipment and medical kits essential to ensure the security and safety of observers released on time,” the official said.
The EU had planned to start deploying election monitors in late April, with observers stationed throughout Egypt. It will now only have an “elections assessment team” in the capital, which will have a limited role in scrutinising the vote. “It is now too late for the long-term observers to conduct a meaningful observation,” the official said.
REUTERS
