Morsi military trials claims are false: Rights group

'No to Military Trials' rejects President Morsi's claim that no civilians were tried in military courts during his first year in office

Ahram Online

File photo of Egyptian activists with stickers that read: "No to military trials for civilians" at a rally. (Photo: AP) 

"The 'No to Military Trials' campaign has criticised President Morsi for claiming no civilians were tried by military courts during his first year in office.


"He claimed no civilians stood trial in military courts during his first year in office – this is untrue," campaign co-founder Mona Seif said via Twitter after the speech on Wednesday night.
Seif added that she had received calls from relatives of detainees after the speech asking her if their loved ones had been released.
Campaign member and human rights lawyer Ragia Omran said via Twitter, "I reject Morsi's statement that no civilians have received military trials during his first year in office. We are in contact with detainees' relatives and there are civilian detainees who are still awaiting military trials."
'No to Military Trials' Facebook page published the names of civilians who are facing or have faced military trials during Morsi's first year in power, such as 17-year-old Mohamed Ihab who was sentenced to 15 years in jail by a military court for attacking an army officer and breaking a curfew.
Activists also criticised Morsi's threat to use his position as armed forces commander-in-chief to sue critics in the media under military law.
"Mubarak tried Muslim Brothers in military courts because civilian courts acquitted them. Today Morsi is threatening to use the same military courts against his opponents," prominent activist Wael Ghonim said via Twitter."