Egypt: Step Toward Accountability for Military Abuses – Civilian Investigation a Chance for Justice for Victims

The Cairo Appeals Court’s appointment of a civilian judge to investigate the responsibility of three leading former generals for the abuse of protesters is an opportunity to hold military officers accountable for such abuses under military rule. Human Rights Watch has documented the military’s role in detaining and torturing hundreds of protesters as well as the shooting of dozens of protesters under military rule, between January 2011 and August 2012.

Military courts have had sole jurisdiction over any act committed by military personnel and have consistently failed to investigate properly the army’s abuses against protesters, Human Rights Watch said. In the only two cases referred for trial, military prosecutors did not examine senior commanders’ responsibility, including whether they gave orders to commit abuse or failed to prevent crimes by subordinates.

“Over the past year and a half, the military has been getting away with murder, torture, and sexual assault, because military investigators were unwilling to seriously investigate their own,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “If backed by full support from the political authorities, this civilian investigation could become the first serious step toward reversing the impunity the military has enjoyed so far.”

The civilian investigation comes as a fact-finding committee appointed by President Mohamed Morsy is reviewing abuses against protesters by the military and the police between January 2011 and June 2012. There was little likelihood while the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces was in power that the complaints of military abuse would be seriously investigated, but there is now an opportunity for President Morsy to push for accountability for military abuses in civilian courts, Human Rights Watch said.

On October 15, 2012, the state news agency MENA announced that Samir Abul Muaty, president of the Cairo Appeals Court, appointed Judge Tharwat Hammad as investigative judge to look into complaints filed by private citizens against Field Marshall Hussein Tantawy, former head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and former defense minister, Lieutenant General Sami Anan, former chief of staff, and General Hamdy Badeen, former head of the military police, for their role in violence against protesters during military rule, and for corruption.

Help keep Expat Cairo independent. If you value our services any contribution towards our costs would be greatly appreciated.