Defendants were denied the right to individual lawyers and to present evidence, while "the prosecution did not provide sufficient evidence to prove individual guilt", she said.
"I hope that the Egyptian Court of Appeal will review this verdict and ensure that international standards of justice are respected by setting it aside," Bachelet said.
Bachelet decried the "lethal military crackdown" saying it had led to the killing of "up to 900 mostly unarmed protesters by members of the Egyptian security forces". The government later claimed that many protesters had been armed and that a number of police were killed, she added.
"Despite the huge death toll, no State security personnel have ever been charged in relation to the so-called 'Rabaa massacre'," Bachelet said.
Tellingly, a law was passed in July gives Field Marshal al-Sisi the right to name officers who are eligible for immunity from investigation of offences alleged to have been committed while Egypt's constitution was suspended between President Mursi's overthrow on July 3, 2013, and the reconvening of parliament on January 10, 2016.
Not surprisingly, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has authorised the release of $1.2 billion in military aid to Egypt, overriding previous human rights concerns that had held up funding.
"Strengthened security cooperation with Egypt is important to US national security. Secretary Pompeo determined that continuing with the obligation and expenditure of these foreign military financing (FMF), funds is important to strengthening our security cooperation with Egypt," the State Department said in a statement.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
