Sign in Subscribe
Peace movements

Egypt's Military Rulers Fail to Deliver on Human Rights Promises

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Amnesty International has published a damning report exposing the Egyptian military rulers' dismal record on human rights since taking power in February. Despite promises to protect Egyptians and improve human rights, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) has instead been responsible for a catalogue of abuses, including using military courts to try civilians, cracking down on peaceful protests, and expanding the remit of Hosni Mubarak's Emergency Law.

Key Takeaways:

  • The SCAF has met few of its commitments to improve human rights and has worsened the situation in some areas, including the use of military courts to try civilians, with over 12,000 civilians tried and at least 13 sentenced to death.
  • Amnesty International found evidence of torture in detention, including a video showing army and police officers beating and giving shocks to detainees.
  • The SCAF has used promises of investigations to deflect criticism of serious human rights violations, but has failed to deliver, with no perpetrators of abuses known to have been brought to justice.
  • Prominent blogger Alaa Abd El Fatta continues to be detained after criticizing the SCAF's handling of the Maspero protests.
  • The SCAF has expanded the Emergency Law to cover new crimes, including disturbing traffic and broadcasting rumors.
  • Amnesty International has called on the Egyptian authorities to restore confidence in public institutions by properly and transparently investigating human rights violations and lifting the Emergency Law.

Statistics:

  • 12,000 civilians tried by military courts
  • 13 civilians sentenced to death by military courts
  • 20 deaths and 200 injuries during the dispersal of anti-SCAF protests in October
  • 28 deaths during the dispersal of a Coptic Christian protest on October 9
  • 17 female protesters subjected to forced "virginity tests" by the army
  • Over 300 forced evictions carried out by military forces since taking law enforcement duties in early 2011

Sources:

  • Amnesty International, "Broken Promises: Egypt's Military Rulers Erode Human Rights"
  • Amnesty International, statement by Philip Luther, Acting Director for the Middle East and North Africa Programme
  • Egyptian government, statement by Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International
  • Al Jazeera, article on the Tahrir Square protests
  • Human Rights Watch, report on the use of forced "virginity tests" by the army

Read more