This written declaration commits only those who have signed it.
We observed the events of the Arab Spring with anxiety, hope
and joy. We admired the determination, courage and dedication of
Egyptians in their struggle for the civil rights they deserved.
The attention of the international public was focused on Egypt.
The attention and engagement of the international public was
certainly an important factor which contributed to the victory of
the Egyptian society over the authoritarian and non-accepted State
authorities.
However, the civic victory did not bring lasting stability
to Egypt. We do not intend to declare support for any of the parties
of the political conflict in Egypt, but we are most astonished and
concerned about the manner of conducting the trial and the sentence
passed against activists of the Muslim Brotherhood. Sentencing 529 people
in one brief show trial is an event without precedent in the modern
world and bears the features of a judicial murder.
We believe that using the death penalty as a tool in the fight
against political opponents cannot be accepted by the international
community.
The undersigned members of the Parliamentary Assembly appeal
to the Egyptian authorities – and to the authorities of all States
whose law allows the death penalty – to introduce a moratorium on
the use of the capital punishment.
