"(New York) – The conviction on November 27, 2013, of 21 peaceful pro-Morsy female protesters violates their right to freedom of assembly. Prosecutors should immediately drop the charges and withdraw their challenge of the women’s appeal, which the Sidi Gaber Minor Offenses Court in Alexandria will hear on December 7.
The convictions come amid a nationwide crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood supporters, including mass arrests of protesters demonstrating against the army’s ouster of Mohamed Morsy, and the authorities’ refusal to hold security forces accountable for killing protesters. Human Rights Watch’s review of the court’s judgment and evidence found that the defendants’ rights to a fair trial appear to have been violated by the failure to allow any witnesses to testify in their defense. There also appeared to be no credible evidence in the court’s ruling that any of the 21 were engaged individually in the alleged crimes.
“Egypt’s courts have sent a dangerous message that they will sentence Muslim Brotherhood supporters to long prison terms if they dare to protest,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director. “Prosecuting these young women for participating in a demonstration, while security forces who killed hundreds of protesters roam free, should shock our collective conscience.”
The Sidi Gaber Minor Offenses Court convicted the women and girls, all but three between the ages of 15 and 19, in a single four-hour hearing. They were charged with vandalism, thuggery, and rioting; illegal public gathering; and the use of weapons during an early morning protest on October 31 against Morsy’s ouster as president.
After refusing to allow the defendants’ lawyers to call any witnesses, the court sentenced each of the 14 women over age 18 to 11 years and one month in prison. The seven younger girls were sentenced to be held in a juvenile facility until they turn 18, at which point their cases will be re-evaluated. Six men accused of calling for the protest were sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison each......."
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