GENEVA
The United Nations Tuesday expressed concern over recent developments in Egypt and its impact on freedom of expression, association and assembly.
At least five people, including two security officers were killed in clashes between demonstrators and security forces during protests in Egypt over the weekend.
The demonstrations were held to protest a court verdict that cleared former president Hosni Mubarak from charges of conspiring to kill protesters during the 2011 uprising in the country.
Addressing a press conference at the UN headquarters in Geneva Tuesday, Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the UN high commissioner for human rights, said "we are also concerned about the seriously damaging lack of accountability for human rights violations committed by security forces in the context of demonstrations."
“We are deeply concerned about a number of recent developments in Egypt and their impact on freedom of expression, association and assembly," Colville said.
Egypt's National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy, the main support bloc of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, called for mass demonstrations Tuesday to protest the Hosni Mubarak court verdict.
He said the authorities must ensure that security forces did not resort to excessive use of force. He also called for prompt, thorough and independent investigations into all human rights violations committed in the context of protests, including those that resulted in deaths.
"The increasing polarization in Egyptian society is very alarming and we urge all sides to engage in a national dialogue to move the country forward in line with the human rights protections," he added.
He also mentioned the 78 teenagers who were sentenced to between two and five years in Egypt on various charges of participating in unauthorized protests, membership of Muslim Brotherhood and calling for the downfall of the regime.
"We urge the government to immediately release all those who have been detained for the legitimate exercise of their rights to peaceful assembly, and to freedom of association and expression," he said.
About the draft law which was approved by the Egyptian government on Nov. 26 for the offences that qualify an organization, association, group of individuals to be considered a terrorist entity, Colville urged that it was thoroughly re-examined to ensure it met international human rights norms and standards.
- Military tribunals
Noting concerns about the use of military trials to prosecute civilians, the spokesperson said "at least 16 civilians are reported to have been tried in military courts since President al-Sisi issued a decree in October this year."
He said military tribunals generally fell short of key international due process standards and urged Egyptian authorities to halt the trials of civilians before such tribunals.
"We are also closely following attempts to bring to justice those responsible for serious human rights violations in Egypt, including the killings of hundreds of people in February 2011 as well as in August last year," he added.
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