Egypt’s prosecution on Saturday referred 34 people accused of “terrorism” to a military court, in the first application of a decision by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi that opened the door for trying civilians before military courts.
The Interior Ministry said earlier on Saturday that policemen had arrested the 34 members of four terrorist cells in a number of Egyptian provinces, noting that the 34 had arms and ammunitions in their possession at the time of their arrest.
The ministry added in a statement that the arrested people were involved in a number of terrorist events, including attacks on a police station, police vehicles, state institutions and electricity transmission towers.
Al-Sisi issued a decision last week to open the door for trying civilians accused of attacking public facilities and state institutions before military courts.
Local and international rights groups express fears that military courts would not make defendants enjoy legal rights they enjoy in civilian courts.