The “No to Military Trials of Civilians” movement demanded that the 50-member constituent assembly, currently entrusted with amending Egypt’s suspended constitution, modifies the article stipulating military trials to have it allow hearing sessions for civilians undergoing military trials, in a statement it issued on Thursday.

The movement's statement denounced some of the assembly members' stance in which it said that "they adopt the same rhetoric of the military institution in their justification for the continued depriving of citizens from their right to a fair trial before civilian judges."


"The popular claim that the military trial of civilians does not contradict the principles of human rights is an outright lie," the statement said while pointing to Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which provides that everyone shall be entitled to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law.

Moreover, the statement added, "Claims that military trials for some civilians are necessary in light of current political unrest is bare from truth, as civil tribunals have the full capability to decide on all charges."