Cairo: 7 April 2019

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) announced, today, the release of its first quarterly report of 2019 on the “state of democratic path in Egypt”, which was issued by the Lawyers for Democracy initiative. The report details the status of proceedings and cases that affect the democratic path in Egypt during the months of January, February and March of 2019.

The report covers the protests that took place in Egypt during the aforementioned period, alongside: trials of various political forces and their affiliates, judicial decisions, military trials of civilians, death sentences in public opinion-related cases and assaults on human rights defenders and media freedoms.

According to the report, the first three months of 2019 have witnessed; six military trials for 1,638 civilians and five death sentences against 24 defendants, including five whose executions have been upheld by the Court of Cassation, while the Prison Service sector has already carried out the death sentences handed down to 15 defendants. On the other hand, Labor and social protests were at the forefront of the protests took place during this period 54 out of 106 protest events, this is in addition to 39 cases of violations against media freedoms.

ANHRI said, “The campaigns launched by a number of parliamentarians to amend some articles of Egypt’s Constitution, most notable the article on the presidential term extending it to 6 years, and the serious steps taken by the Parliament to pass such amendment turning a blind eye to the views and stance of the civil movement’s members- who requested to organize a protest to show their objection to the constitutional amendments but their request were met by rejection- constitute an official acknowledgment by the authorities that democracy in Egypt has passed away.”

ANHRI added, “The articles of the sanctions list of the Law on Regulating the Press and Media, which was issued by Supreme Media Regulatory Council, were very tailored and violate the provisions of the Egyptian Constitution; in an attempt to silence opinion makers, writers and those opposing the state’s policies, making media outlets act as a mere mouthpiece for the government to support its decisions without voicing any opinion or view.”

You can check the report through the following link: The Democratic Path in Egypt during the First Quarter of 2019

 The Democratic Path in Egypt during the First Quarter of 2019 word

 The Democratic Path in Egypt during the First Quarter of 2019 pdf