Amnesty 'concerned' about death sentences in Egypt

Amnesty International has said that it is “concerned” about the latest remarks by Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi regarding the death sentences given to Muslim Brotherhood leaders and members, Jordanian newspaper Al-Sabeel reported on Friday. Al-Sisi accused the Brotherhood of assassinating Public Prosecutor Hisham Barakat earlier this week, and called for stricter laws to fight terrorism.

The Islamic movement called on Egypt to follow its Constitution and global human rights standards in its war against terrorism. Amnesty sent a message to Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri, expressing its worries regarding a statement by his ministry that accused the rights group’s reports, which criticise Egypt’s human rights abuses, of encouraging terrorist groups.

At Hisham Barakat’s funeral, Al-Sisi called for stricter laws allowing sentences to be carried out without delay. “The hand of justice is cuffed by the law,” he said, “and there is an urgent need to get courts and laws to fight terrorism.” He also pledged to carry out all death sentences and other court rulings against Brotherhood leaders and members, which were issued or approved by the assassinated prosecutor.

Leaks giving information about the initial investigations into the assassination reveal that a military official was behind it. The Egyptian authorities have imposed a media gagging order on the details.