Jamiatul Ulama KZN Council of Muslim Theologians
May 18 2015 at 05:59pm
By Carla Bernardo
EPAA file picture dated 15 February 2015 of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi gesturing from inside a cage in the courtroom where he stood trial in Cairo. Picture: Namir Galal / Almasry Alyoum
Cape Town – Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had contradicted his claims of building a new democracy by sentencing deposed president Mohamed Morsi and just over 100 others to death said United States-based non-profit Freedom House on Monday.
“The death sentence shows that President al-Sisi’s government regards every critic and opposition figure as a dire threat, which is the radicalising, self-defeating policy of dictatorships,” said Mark P. Lagon, president of Freedom House.
“Al-Sisi is making a mockery of any claim that he is building democracy. The sentence against Morsi is a gross abuse of political rights.”
A Cairo court sentenced the former Egyptian leader and just over 100 of his defenders to death on Saturday.
The sentencing would be referred to Egypt’s Grand Mufti Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, the country’s highest legal authority, for final confirmation which was expected on June 2.
ANA
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‘Mideast turmoil if Morsi executed’
May 18 2015 at 02:31pm
By Reuters Comment on this story
APOusted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi raises his hands as he sits behind glass in a courtroom, in a converted lecture hall in the national police academy in an eastern Cairo suburb. Picture: Ahmed Omar
Ankara – Turkey’s presidential spokesman said on Monday that the Middle East would be thrown into turmoil if death sentences handed down in Egypt to former president Mohamed Morsi and other senior Islamist figures were carried out.
Ibrahim Kalin told a news conference in Ankara that Turkey would work with the UN Human Rights Commission following the sentences, and take “all necessary steps”.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is a vocal supporter of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Reuters
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Morsi death sentence worries UN chief
May 18 2015 at 09:04pm
By Reuters Comment on this story
APOusted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi raises his hands as he sits behind glass in a courtroom, in a converted lecture hall in the national police academy in an eastern Cairo suburb, Egypt. AP Photo/Ahmed Omar
United Nations – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern on Monday at an Egyptian court decision to seek the death penalty for former President Mohamed Morsi, a spokesman for the United Nations said.
“The secretary-general notes with serious concern the sentence of death issued by the Egyptian Criminal Court against former President Mohamed Morsi and 105 others,” UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters.
The ruling against Morsi is not final until June 2. All capital sentences are referred to Egypt’s top religious authority, the Grand Mufti, for a non-binding opinion, and are also subject to legal appeal.
“(Ban) understands that the verdict is still subject to an appeal. He will continue to monitor the process very closely,” he said, adding that he “underscores the importance of all parties taking steps to promote – and avoiding those that could further undermine – peace, stability and the rule of law.”
Reuters
