FIDH calls for independent investigations, accountability and an immediate end to violence in Egypt
| Publisher | International Federation for Human Rights |
| Publication Date | 30 July 2013 |
| Cite as | International Federation for Human Rights, FIDH calls for independent investigations, accountability and an immediate end to violence in Egypt, 30 July 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/520105ad5.html [accessed 7 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Last Update 30 July 2013
According to the Ministry of Health, at least 80 people died and 279 were injured in Cairo and Alexandria. The cause of death was reported to be mainly due to bullet injuries to the upper part of the body including head, neck, and chest. According to the information received, in Cairo, security forces and plain-clothed men clashed with pro-Morsy protesters on Friday night around the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in Nasr City. The clashes continued until the morning of Saturday leaving at least 72 people dead. In Alexandria, 8 people died in clashes between pro-Morsy and anti-Morsy protesters on 26 July. FIDH is highly concerned about the excessive use of force, including lethal force against demonstrators and increasing violent clashes between protesters, citizens and security forces that have been happening since 3 July 2013.
The use of force and violence by police and security forces that resulted in deaths and severe injuries against demonstrators came after several statements by Egyptian rulers. On Friday 26 July, Egyptian Minister of Defense, General Abdel Fattah Al Sisi called upon Egyptians to protest in order to "grant him an order to confront potential violence and terrorism". During the night of 26 July, the Minister of Interior, General Mohammed Ibrahim announced that the ministry would clear "soon" and in a "legal way" the two main hot spots where pro-Morsy demonstrators were holding sit-ins since 30 June in Cairo, the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque and Nahda Square in Giza.
The ministry of Interior reported that pro-Morsy demonstrators fired live ammunition, birdshot pellets, and threw stones on security forces.
FIDH, in accordance with its Egyptian member organisations, expresses its utmost concerns about unlawful and excessive use of violence by security forces. FIDH calls for an immediate, independent and impartial investigation into all the human rights violations committed by all parties. All those responsible for such violations must be held accountable.
"The Egyptian interim authorities have the duty and the responsibility to immediately end this state of violence in the country. They should not further compromise the rule of law and must fully comply with international human rights standards in the process" said Karim Lahidji, FIDH President.
FIDH urges the Egyptian authorities to respect the right to peaceful protest and strictly comply with other international human rights standards. In the case of use of violence and firearms by protesters, the authorities have to fully uphold the United Nations basic principles on the "Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials" which strictly limit the intentional lethal force to cases when it is strictly necessary to protect life.
