Centrum Stosunków Międzynarodowych - 14 August 2016: HRW calls on Egypt to investigate Raba’a deaths

On the third anniversary of the massacre on Raba’a square in Cairo, which claimed at least 817 dead, the Human Rights Watch has called on the Egyptian Parliament to conduct an independent inquiry, enforce accountability of people responsible on the basis of transitional justice, and provide compensation for families of victims. The report on this issue has been published on Sunday, August 14, argues that the Egyptian authorities have failed to adequately account for the use of force against the protesters. According to the Egyptian constitution, a law on transitional justice has to be passed before the end of current parliamentary session in October 2016.

The massacre took place on August 14, 2013 when police forces dispersed supporters of president Muhammad Mursi, who was ousted in a military coup a month earlier, from the Raba’a square. Despite earlier promise, the police did not provide safe exit for those wanting to leave the square before the dispersal. Soon after the beginning of the operation, security forces stared to use live ammunition against people on the square, as well as those who tried to leave it. According to official reports, 627 people died in the massacre. However, HRW documented 817 deaths and reviewed evidence on further 246 possible death. On the same day the police also dispersed a protest on an-Nahda square, killing 87 people according to an official estimate. According to the HRW, police activity in these cases amount to crimes against humanity.

The massacre took place in the aftermath of the coup on July 3, 2013, in which the Muslim Brotherhood-backed president Mursi was ousted. In reactions to protests of his supporters, the authorities then launched a wave of repressions against the Muslim Brothers. A report containing the results of an official inquiry, which was not fully released, blamed the deaths on protesters themselves, claiming they had shot first and thus forced the police to use live ammunition. None of the policemen involved were charged with crimes related to Raba’a, while almost 750 Muslim Brothers and other protesters are being tried.