Morsi’s hearing fell ‘below the standards of a fair trial’

The 20-year sentence given to Egypt’s first freely elected President Mohamed Morsi “is symptomatic of the deepening human rights crisis in Egypt”, the London-based ITN Solicitors, who represent the Muslim Brotherhood, said today.

In a press statement, the solicitors added that the international legal team representing Morsi’s Freedom and Justice Party have confirmed that his prison sentence will be raised with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights at a hearing in Gambia early next month.

Tayab Ali of ITN Solicitors, who leads the international legal team, said: “President Morsi’s trial falls far below the standards expected of a fair trial. These political show trials have become the hallmark of General Sisi’s regime. The judiciary in Egypt are seriously failing their people by endorsing the illegal acts of the military regime.”

The full text of the press release can be found below:

Press Statement

Date: 21 April 2015

Release: Immediate

President Morsi Sentenced to 20 Years

President Morsi has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in the first of his trials following his illegal removal from office in a military coup in 2013. Dr. Mohamed Morsi became the first freely elected President of Egypt following Egypt’s short lived 2011 revolution.

This sentence is symptomatic of the deepening human rights crisis in Egypt. It results from one of a series of political show trials in Egypt, in which due process and human rights norms are routinely ignored. These prosecutions, which result in either long prison sentences or the death sentence, are no more than a tool used by the regime to repress dissent.

The continued use of politicised trials to impose mass death sentences is of critical concern, in particular since President Morsi is to stand trial again in May, when he faces a real risk of receiving the death penalty.

Following leaked audio recordings of conversations between senior members of the military regime, subsequently verified and authenticated by senior acoustic experts, it became clear that the Egyptian legal process was subject to manipulation by the military regime.

The International Legal Team representing President Morsi’s Freedom and Justice Party have confirmed that his prison sentence will be raised with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights at an important hearing scheduled to take place in Gambia in early May.

The African Commission will be asked to consider Egypt’s imposition of over 500 mass death penalties and the execution of Mahmoud Ramadan, which was carried out despite the African Commission ordering Egypt’s President Sisi to suspend all death penalties.

Tayab Ali of ITN Solicitors, who leads the International Legal Team, said: “President Morsi’s trial falls far below the standards expected of a fair trial. These political show trials have become the hallmark of General Sisi’s regime. The judiciary in Egypt are seriously failing their people by endorsing the illegal acts of the military regime.”

“The Court presiding over Morsi’s trial failed to consider strong evidence prepared by my legal team that President Morsi’s detention was illegal and that evidence was being fabricated.”

“We intend to bring the massive failure of Egypt’s legal system to the attention of the African Commission. It is imperative that the international community takes decisive action to bring an end to the burgeoning human rights crisis in Egypt.”

ITN solicitors are a leading Criminal and Human Rights law firm based in London.