Egypt's military rulers pardon 334 citizens who faced military trials

Egypt's military rulers pardon 334 citizens who faced military trials

2011-11-03 07:23:05 GMT+7 (ICT)

CAIRO (BNO NEWS) -- Egypt's ruling military council on Wednesday said it will grant amnesty to 334 people who were previously convicted by military courts, the Al-Ahram state-owned newspaper reported.

In a message posted on its official Facebook page, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) said it will pardon 334 Egyptians who "have received final verdicts from military courts." However, the military council did not immediately release their identities.

Activists and human rights organizations have been criticizing the ruling military council for its use of military tribunals to prosecute thousands of individuals it accuses of breaking public order. They are also asking for the immediate release of all civilians who have been sentenced by military courts and their retrial before civilian courts.

According to activists, the latest estimate on the number of civilians facing military prosecution has reached more than 12,000.

The military council has been in control of Egypt since the regime of President Hosni Mubarak was toppled in February. According to Amnesty International, at least 840 people were killed and over 6,000 people were injured in the violent repression that took place during the January uprising.

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