Freedom & Justice Party makes oral submissions to African Commission on Egyptian mass death penalties

Lawyers representing President Mohamed Morsi’s Freedom and Justice Party were granted a private hearing by the African Commission to make submissions on the concerns over the imposition of mass death sentences in Egypt.

Presenting arguments today in Banjul, the Gambia, on behalf of the FJP, Counsel Rodney Dixon Q.C. addressed the Commission, during its 56th Ordinary Session, on the serious violations of international law in Egypt since the coup. Leading British human rights lawyer, Tayab Ali, who advises the FJPs international legal team, supported submissions at the hearing.

The Commission has previously issued Provisional Measures against the use of mass death sentences in Egypt. However, these Measures have been wilfully ignored by the Egyptian regime. In March 2015, Egypt executed Mr Mahmoud Ramadan despite the African Commission ordering the regime to suspend his execution a matter of days before it took place.

Today’s proceedings were held in private, between the parties and the Commission. However, as the lawyers have consistently stated in their public submissions, the Commission has been urged to take immediate and decisive action to halt the imposition of death penalties and for the Egyptian justice system to uphold fundamental human rights guarantees.

Concerns about the imposition of mass death sentences in Egypt are gathering pace internationally. Leading human rights’ organisations, such as Reprieve, have also presented arguments to the Commission and the African Union High Level Panel for Egypt has recommended the Commission to undertake a fact-finding mission to Egypt.

After the hearing, Rodney Dixon Q.C. said “this is a ground-breaking moment in accountability for the Egyptian people. The African Commission have heard our submissions on behalf of those languishing in the most appalling prison conditions and facing the ultimate penalty following trials that fell far below internationally recognised standards. We have faith that the Commission will take all necessary steps to protect the well-being and, indeed, the lives of the thousands who remain detained in Egypt.”

Tayab Ali, who advises the FJP international legal team, said, “the African Commission is the last hope for justice for hundreds of Egyptians who have done nothing more than wanting a democratic Egypt. We are grateful to the African Commission for intervening in these cases and imposing interim measures. This is not an appeal in respect of an isolated death sentence; this is a part of a widespread and systemic imposition of capital punishment in order to quell peaceful democratic opposition. The judicial system is being used to prop up serious acts of state repression and the African Commission must continue to hold Egypt to account.”

The African Charter established the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The Commission’s Secretariat is located in Banjul, The Gambia. The Commission is officially charged with the protection of human and peoples’ rights; the promotion of human and peoples’ rights; and the interpretation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.