Maghreb Edition

Egypt escalates executions by hanging

Posted On 14 February 2019

Number of times this article was read : 297

Feb 13, 2019 – Three prisoners convicted of killing a police officer were hanged in Egypt on Wednesday, bringing to six the number of executions carried out by Egyptian authorities in two weeks, Amnesty said.

Amnesty International’s Najia Bounaim condemned the “alarming escalation in executions so far this year” in Egypt after the three were hanged for the 2013 murder of senior police officer Nabil Farag.

Use of the death sentence is “appalling under any circumstances, but it is even more so given that all six execution victims were sentenced based on confessions they said were extracted under torture”, said Bounaim. “The shocking flaws in Egypt’s justice system have seen hundreds sentenced to death after grossly unfair trials in recent years,” Bounaim said. “The Egyptian authorities should stop all further executions and immediately establish an official moratorium on executions.”

Human Rights Watch last week condemned the hanging of three young “political detainees” convicted of murdering the son of a judge in September 2013.

By AFP

The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Niger Moves Uranium From SOMAÏR Mine Despite Arbitration Ruling

Niger’s military authorities have authorized the removal and transport of uranium from the SOMAÏR mine at Arlit without the involvement of longtime operator Orano, prompting the French nuclear group to denounce the shipment as illegal and in breach of a September 2025 World Bank–linked arbitration ruling. While Niamey signals plans to sell the stock on the open market as an assertion of resource sovereignty, the move raises legal, safety, and security concerns as uranium travels by road through conflict‑affected Sahel corridors.

Benin Soldiers Mount Brief Coup Attempt

In the span of a few hours on December 7, a small group of soldiers in Benin, West Africa, moved from night‑time attacks on senior officers’ homes to a televized announcement claiming they had removed President Patrice Talon and suspended the constitution. Forces loyal to the government swiftly retook the national broadcaster and key positions in Cotonou, and authorities now say the coup attempt has been defeated even as some officers remain missing and questions about the mutineers’ support network persist.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.