The ACIJLP Calls upon Muslim Brotherhood to stop violence immediately

Cairo 7^th July 2013

The ACIJLP Calls upon Muslim Brotherhood to stop violence immediately

The Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP) expresses its full condemnation over all forms of violence, witnessed by the Egyptian arena at this time, because of the policies of violence or the calls upon violence, practiced by the Muslim Brotherhood, in the face of the peaceful revolution, which erupted on 25^th January 2011. The ACIJLP also calls upon the Muslim Brotherhood to stop the violence immediately.

The ACIJLP warns that the calls for violence by the Muslim Brotherhood has led to the loss of lives of many of Egyptian youth, through extrajudicial killings, and that the cruelty of these crimes cannot be justified at all and does not fall within the scope of political dissent in any case.

The ACIJLP points out that the calls for violence pursued by the Muslim Brotherhood, represent a deviation from the approach of peaceful demonstrations, which began since the 25^th January revolution. Moreover, the adoption of violence in the face of peaceful demonstrators constitutes a grave threat to the right to life, and a continuation of extrajudicial killings, as a crime against humanity.

The ACIJLP is deeply concerned about the high rates of violence and increasing violations of the right to life in Egypt. The ACIJLP holds the Muslim Brotherhood the responsibility for the continuing violence and killings and it also holds the Egyptian authorities the responsibility for protecting the right of demonstrators to life as well as responsibility for the deaths and injuries occurred.

The ACIJLP calls upon the Muslim Brotherhood to stop violence or calling for violence immediately. The ACIJLP also calls upon the concerned Egyptian authorities to take rapid and urgent measures, to prosecute and bring to accountability the involved and the instigators of the violence and killings and bring them to fair and equitable trials.

The ACIJLP expressed its astonishment and dismay over the inaction of the authorities and the Egyptian government to take measures to ensure the exercise of public rights and freedoms on the one hand, and to ensure full protection for those who exercise these rights and freedoms on the other hand. The ACIJLP also expressed its fear that the Egyptian arena witnesses increasing rates of violence in Egypt, as a result of the inaction of the Egyptian authorities to take the necessary actions and measures to protect the right to life and reduce the increasing rates of violence.

The ACIJLP calls upon the concerned Egyptian authorities to take all necessary measures and actions to protect the right to life of the citizens who exercise their right to peaceful demonstration, out of respect for the commitments and international obligations of Egypt, in particular Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states that the " Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life".

The ACIJLP Calls upon the authorities and the Egyptian government to take into account the provisions of Article (21) of the above mentioned Covenant which stated "The right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (order public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others".