EGYPT TRIES 140 CIVILIANS IN MILITARY COURTS

Cairo, 29 Rabi’ul Awwal 1436/20 January 2015 (MINA) – The “No to military trials” movement has said that as many as 140 Egyptian students have been transferred to military trials, including 22 students from the Al-Azhar University.

According to the group, another 390 students are currently waiting to transfer their cases to military courts following the passing of resolution 136 that allowed the establishment of more military courts under the Al-Sisi regime, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Tuesday.

During a conference organised by the movement, the father of Mohamed Ahmed Al-Arabi, a student at the Faculty of Commerce in Ain Shams University, said that his son was kidnapped 30 days ago from his house and was denied access to any legal representation until three days ago.

Al-Arabi said his son is accused of spreading false news and insulting the army and was transferred to a military trial.

He was only permitted to meet his son three days ago, having spent the last month searching for him in police stations across the capital.

“It’s funny how they demand us to obtain a special permission from the army to visit my son but deny us access to the military compound due to heavy security measures,” he said.

Al-Arabi also claims that since his arrest, his son had been subjected to “torture, beatings and detention in solitary confinement in the army prison wearing light clothes that did not fit the current situation.”

He stressed that his son did not belong to any political group and demanded his immediate release and for all civilians to be tried before civil courts. (T/P002/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)