Cairo: A recent presidential move expanding the scope of military trials for civilians in Egypt is a cause for concern and it is unconstitutional, Egyptian rights groups said on Saturday.
“This decree allows to put on trial before a military court any civilian accused of damaging public installations or blocking a road — charges that are usually made against anti-government protesters,” 15 rights groups said in a joint statement.
Last week, President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi, who temporarily holds legislative power, approved a bill authorising the army to join police in securing state facilities against attacks. According to the controversial law, suspects in attacks on facilities including power plants, oil fields, gas pipelines, roads and bridges will be tried before military tribunals where rights advocates say there are no guarantees for a fair trial.
The law was issued days after 30 Egyptian soldiers were killed in an attack in North Sinai and amid mounting anti-government protests in universities mainly by Islamist students.
“Expanding the jurisdiction of military courts in trying civilians violates Article No 204 in the constitution that restricts such trials to direct attacks on military installations,” the rights groups said.
“The new law is tantamount to an undeclared state of emergency and circumvents the constitutional restrictions by tasking the army with protecting public installations in conjunction with police.”
The groups warned that thousands of civilians could be arrested and put on military trial as a result. “This threatens to undermine the civil judicial system on the pretext of fighting terrorism.”
Critics accuse military courts of hasty procedures and harsh penalties.
Proponents say expanding the military courts’ jurisdiction is necessary to deter a surge in terrorist assaults that have increased in Egypt since last year when the army deposed Islamist president Mohammad Mursi following massive street protests against his rule.
