- Juan E. Méndez, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture; Source: United Nations - Geneva
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights also criticized the trial in 2011 claiming that the trial had violated the prohibition of torture enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Subsequently, the Egyptian authorities agreed to halt the execution of the sentence and launched an investigation.
However, Méndez voiced concerns over the review of the cases as a different panel of the same security court which had convicted the three men, now examines the cases. Méndez said that this procedure showed “the inability and unwillingness of a state security court to address complaints of torture with the seriousness they deserve.”
The new hearing of the cases will take place on 12 September.
UN News Centre: UN human rights expert condemns use of torture for confessions in Egyptian court
