From: ai-news@amnesty.org
Subject: Egypt: Another blow to freedom of expression
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Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2000 18:03:42 +0000
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* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *

20 November 2000
MDE 12/038/2000
219/00


The sentencing of 15 alleged Muslim Brothers by the Egyptian
Supreme Military Court is a further blow to freedom of expression
in Egypt, Amnesty International said today.

     The 15 people include lawyers, physicians, university
professors and engineers who have been detained since 1999. They
were sentenced between three and five years imprisonment for
their non-violent political activities on 19 November 2000.

     "Amnesty International condemns the verdict, considers
the 15 men to be prisoners of conscience and calls for their
immediate and unconditional release," the organization said.

     "This trial before a military court fell short of
international standards for fair trial. Amnesty International has
consistently urged the Egyptian authorities to put an end to the
trial of civilians before military courts, which violates some of
the most fundamental requirements of international law, such as
the right to be tried before an independent and impartial court,
and the right to appeal to a higher court," the organization said.

     The verdict had been postponed on several occasions in
the run-up to the parliamentary elections of 14 November 2000 and
was eventually pronounced a few days after they had taken place.
Over recent months hundreds of supporters and candidates of the
opposition have been harassed and arrested in connection with the
elections.

     Delegates of Amnesty International observed two sessions
of the trial in March 2000. They were denied access to the court
room for the pronouncement of the verdict on 19 November 2000,
despite official requests to attend.

      The three men sentenced to five years' imprisonment are:
Muhammad Badi'a 'Abd al-Magid, a university professor; Sa'ad
Zaghlul al-'Ashmawi Muhammad Sabir al-'Ashmawi, a physician; and
Ahmad Ibrahim Ahmad al-Halawani, a teacher. Mukhtar Nouh, the
former treasurer of the Egyptian Bar Association, and former
member of the parliament, was among the 12 sentenced to three
years' imprisonment. Five other alleged Muslim Brothers were
acquitted in the same trial.


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