MASS PROTESTS IN TURKEY AGAINST EGYPTIAN DEATH SENTENCES

Istanbul, 29 Jumadil Akhir 1435/29 April 2014 (MINA) – An Egyptian court’s decision to sentence 683 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to death caused mass protests across Turkey on Monday.

The Platform of Solidarity, consisting of Egyptians and numerous Turkish non-governmental organisations, held demonstrations in many cities in Turkey in order to protest against a court’s decision in the central province of Minya on Monday to sentence 37 Morsi supporters to death and the 491 life sentences to others charged with violence.

Members of Turkey’s IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation and other organisations along with Egyptians living in Turkey gathered in front of the Egypt consulate in Istanbul and projected ousted President Mohamed Morsi’s photo and Rabia symbol onto the consulate building, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

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Protesters, bearing Syrian, Egyptian and Palestinian flags and Morsi’s posters, on board boats near the consulate unfurled banners, saying “Will the world keep quiet against this cruelty?,” “Get out Sisi, we are with you Morsi” and “Junta’s sentence to death cannot appal Islamic resistance.”

A former Egyptian deputy Adil Rasit stated that one person who received the death penalty had died three years ago. The deputy said that he wonders if the judge who issued the sentence even analyzed the names presented to him or if he knew that one person sentenced was already dead three years ago?

Members of the Anatolian Youth Association (AGD), an association for unity and fraternity of Turkish youth in Turkey, also rallied in Fatih province of Istanbul against the mass death sentences.

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AGD’s Istanbul branch chairperson Ali Ugur Bulut stressed that the death sentences are unacceptable, saying, “Every sensible person is aware that these penalties are not based within a legal framework.”

Some non-governmental organisations held demonstrations in fifteen Turkish cities including the capital city of Ankara, Antalya, Sivas, Yalova, Bolu, Kocaeli, Kahramanmaras and Sanliurfa.

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Faruk Logoglu told the Anadolu Agency that they find the sentences wrong and stated that the death sentences are politically motivated. Logoglu added that these sentences do not bring peace to the country and they only make deep wounds.

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Egypt’s army-backed authorities have launched a massive crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood since Morsi’s ouster by the army last July.

In the nine months since, thousands of the groups’ members and sympathizers have been arrested and convicted of multiple charges. (T/P09/E01).

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).