Egypt Losing Gains Of 2011 Revolution, Says Rights Group

Egypt is reversing the gains of its 2011 revolution by militarizing the trials of civilians, Human Rights Watch said Thursday.



"Curtailing the use of military courts to try civilians was one of the few tangible gains of the 2011 revolution, but that's out the window now," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East & North Africa director for the group, referring to a decree issued by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi extending military court authority.



At least 820 civilians have been referred to military prosecutors in the past six weeks based on the October decree, which tasks the army to guard public facilities and vital state institutions for two years, during which those facilities would be treated as military facilities.



Under the decree, incidents that occurred before the law was issued can be subjected retroactively.



Militarizing civilian trials means methodically reversing the reforms achieved during the revolution, which forced former dictator Hosni Mubarak to step down, she said.



"President al-Sisi should repeal his October decree before more damage is done if he has any concern for preserving Egypt's reputation and the new Constitution he has sworn to protect," she said. "He should also annul all verdicts against civilians that military courts have handed down since his government took power and order their retrial before civil judges."



Whitson also raised concerns that the United States and other governments continue to send military support to the al-Sisi administration "as if none of it matters."



www.aa.com.tr/en - New York