Muslim Brotherhood calls on UN for accountability for the crimes and violations committed in Egypt

The Middle East Monitor (MEMO) has received a copy of the original 53 page submission by the Muslim Brotherhood and the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) of Egypt to the United Nations Human Rights Council Periodic Review, which is deliberating on the condition of Human Rights in Egypt.

In Egypt’s first review for four years, this session is seen as a major test for the United Nations Human Rights Council. Submissions have been made by a number of Human Rights organisations such as Amnesty, who are concerned over the regimes crackdown on civil society since the fall of President Morsi.

The Report provides detailed account of the role of the FJP during the revolution, its subsequent overthrow by the military coup and the repression that followed.

In the report, the FJP and the Muslim Brotherhood emphasises the importance of full accountability for the crimes and violations committed since July 2013. It requested that Human Rights Council make the recommendation of a full and independent investigation into all allegations by a fact finding committee appointed by the Human Rights Council into these violations, as well as the recommendation that accountability and justice is sought for the victims of these crimes and violations.

The report submitted by the Brotherhood and FJP made the following conclusions:

144. The FJP and the Muslim Brotherhood have provided submissions in response to Egypt’s criticism of the period during which President Morsi and his government were in power. It is critical that a full and accurate account of President Morsi’s one year in office is provided to the Human Rights Council in their assessment of the human rights situation during this period.

145. In addition, a detailed account of violations which have occurred since the unlawful coup of July 2013 has been provided, and responses have been made to Egypt’s of the facts of the unprecedented state of human rights violations and repression since the illegal coup of July 2013. It has been asserted that serious and widespread crimes have been committed, and continue to be committed, against the Egyptian population including murder, unlawful imprisonment, torture, persecution, enforced disappearance of persons and intentionally causing great suffering and mental and physical injury. Evidence has shown that the Muslim Brotherhood was directly targeted in the commission of these crimes by the military authorities and violations against them were justified using counter-terrorism laws in complete absence of evidence and due legal process.

146. Further, civil and political rights guaranteed under Egyptian law and Egypt’s international obligations have been systematically violated including the right to freedom of association, 174 HRW report – All According to Plan, p. 103. 175 HRW report – All According to Plan, p. 102. A/HRC/WG.6/20/EGY/1 53 freedom of speech, freedom of the press, as well as due process and fair trial rights. National and international human rights organisations have seen their work frustrated and their activists threatened, and access to free and fair elections has been curbed under the military regime.

147. It is further emphasised that the Human Rights Council cannot simply rely on the submissions of the military government which merely recite the provisions of Egyptian and international law which provide rights and guarantees to Egyptian citizens. As consistently highlighted throughout this submission, these guarantees are meaningless unless the military government ensures and implements the rights codified in the provisions it promotes. Therefore, the FJP and the Muslim Brotherhood strongly encourage the Human Rights Council to consider the actions taken by the military government, as detailed above, which demonstrate a systematic lack of respect from these rights and guarantees.

148. The FJP and the Muslim Brotherhood request that each of these violations are highlighted by the Human Rights Council and all necessary steps are taken to make sure these violations are halted. It is requested that the Human Rights Council follow the spirit and recommendations of the African Commission’s Resolution 287 which urged the military government to uphold its obligations under international human rights law while noting an “overall continuous impunity” for “flagrant violation of human rights such as harassments, arbitrary arrests and detentions, sexual violence against women and acts of torture” as well as “blatant disregard for the most basic guarantees of fair trial and due process by courts and tribunals.”176 It is requested that the UN Human Rights Council endorse this resolution and press the military government to comply with each of its recommendations.

149. Last, the FJP and the Muslim Brotherhood emphasises the importance of full accountability for the crimes and violations committed since July 2013. Therefore, it is requested that Human Rights Council make the recommendation of a full and independent investigation into these allegations by a fact finding committee appointed by the Human Rights Council into these violations, as well as the recommendation that accountability and justice is sought for the victims of these crimes and violations.

Download the full submission here.