Global Civil Society Alliance, CIVICUS, is shocked and saddened by the deaths of at least 51 pro-Morsi supporters in the early hours of 8 July. Hundreds more are reported to have been injured when military and police opened fire on Monday morning outside the Republican Guard headquarters in Cairo.
"We urge the interim government of Egypt and the armed forces to start an investigation into this atrocity immediately. This is desperately needed to restore faith in both the transitional government and the armed forces' ability to protect the freedoms of association and assembly of all Egyptians, and not just the 'victors' of this second uprising," says Danny Sriskandarajah, CIVICUS Secretary-General.
These events have occurred at the end of a tumultuous 10 days in Egypt. The country has experienced an escalation in violence between the pro and anti-Morsi protest movements and a number of other violent deaths around the country following the removal of President Morsi on 3 July by the military.
"While respecting the right to freedom of expression, we need to caution against the use of incendiary language by all Egyptian political parties and call for constructive dialogue to unify Egypt," says Sriskandarajah.
While the Armed Forces have appointed the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, judge Adly Mansour, to act as the interim President of Egypt before new elections can be called, CIVICUS is concerned at additional reports of the politically motivated issuance of arbitrary arrest warrants against members of the Freedom and Justice Party, the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, and their detention in illegal places of detention.
There is also concern at a decree ordering the closure of five Islamist television stations. The decree issued on the 3 July suspended channels including al-Naas, al-Hafez TV and Muslim Brotherhood channel Misr 25, while Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr was raided and its staff detained.
"Any targeting of the Muslim Brotherhood should be seen as a step back into Mubarak-era authoritarianism and as a move that will not work positively towards the healing and unification of a polarised state. It is important that the army and the transitional Government do not close their eyes to the fact that Egyptians must continue living side by side with one another regardless of their political opinions," says Sriskandarajah.
CIVICUS urges the interim government of Adly Mansour, to:
- Respect the human rights of all Egyptians, regardless of political opinion or affiliation.
- Denounce the shooting of pro-Morsi supporters outside the Republican Guard headquarters in Cairo by members of the military and instigate a full investigation into the events surrounding the shooting.
- Halt any politically motivated arrests and detention of those perceived to be politically opposed to the transitional government, including those linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, and allow the Freedom and Justice Party members to exercise their right to freedom of association.
- Denounce and caution against hate speech or reprisals towards members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Freedom and Justice Party, or anti-Morsi government protestors.
- Condemn immediately the attacks on female protestors during the recent protests in Tahrir Square, around Cairo and in the rest of Egypt and take immediate measures to guarantee the safety and physical integrity of female protestors.
