Egypt's future at risk

Shocked relatives react after learning of the death sentences passed on 529 supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt (photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Earlier this week, an Egyptian court sentenced over 500 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to death in a case that lasted less than two days. According to Loay Mudhoon, this ruling is the work of a politicised judiciary and could destroy any chance of national reconciliation

By Loay Mudhoon

Egypt's notoriously slow-moving justice system has rarely been so "effective". Judges presiding over a summary trial in the Upper Egyptian city of Minya sentenced 529 supposed supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood to death for their alleged participation in the murder of a policeman.

They needed just two days to get through this mass lawsuit; the court evidently felt there was no need to grant the defence a hearing. Although the convicted individuals can lodge an appeal against this unprecedented, scandalous sentence, one thing is already certain: Monday, 24 March 2014 will be remembered as a dark day in the history of the Egyptian judiciary.

The death sentences disregard all internationally recognised minimum standards for the rule of law and fairness. They also signal the demise of a once-proud justice system. But more importantly, the sentences are the work of a politicised judiciary that is acting as an instrument of revenge on behalf of the country's new power: the military and the oligarchy.

Mohammed Badie, the Muslim Brotherhood's supreme guide, behind bars (photo: Ahmed Gamil/AFP/Getty Images) — Conscious strategy to wipe out the Muslim Brotherhood: only a day after 529 supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood were sentenced to death, a case against a further 683 people was adjourned until 28 April. This group stands accused of taking part in riots in August 2013. Among the accused is Mohammed Badie, the Muslim Brotherhood's supreme guide (pictured here)

The fall of the Muslim Brotherhood

The death sentences are the latest chapter in the Egyptian military regime's systematic criminalisation of the organisation that gave birth to political Islam. They threaten to destroy forever any chance of national reconciliation and a genuine new beginning in Egypt following the overthrow of the former president, Mohammed Morsi.

This policy of demonising the Islamists – which goes hand in hand with the repression of secular and democratic forces in a climate of fear and hysteria – is likely to jeopardise the future of what is the world's largest Arab country.

It is simply naïve to believe that a mass organisation like the Muslim Brotherhood, which has such deep roots in the Egyptian population, can be eliminated by force alone. Additionally, alarming reports from human rights organisations have documented a massive increase in systematic torture in the country's prisons since Morsi was overthrown in July 2013. Even the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights recently criticised the use of ruthless violence against unarmed members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Egypt urgently needs a national agenda of reconciliation involving all political forces and uses non-military means of conflict resolution. Failure to do so could foster the emergence of a new generation of terrorists, plunging the country into fear and dread.

In order to avoid this possible "Pakistanisation" of Egypt, Western states should do everything in their power to help set the new administration under the leadership of General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi on the right path. It is in Europe's best interest.

Loay Mudhoon

Editor: Michael Lawton/DW.de and Aingeal Flanagan/Qantara.de