21 August 2014

Egypt: Karim Shama, One Summary Execution Too Many

On 4 July 2014, the police shot at peaceful demonstrators at the exit of a Mosque in Al Mattariyyah, with no legitimate reasons. Amongst these demonstrators was 22-year old student, Karim Jamal Mahmoud Mostafa Shama.

Hit three times in the head for demonstrating against the ongoing repression in Egypt, Shama died for expressing his ideas. He was affiliated with Al Wasat Party, a moderate Islamist political party whose members are subject to the same persecutions from the authorities as the supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Shama's death comes in addition to the thousands of civilians that have been killed this year with total impunity by Egypt's security apparel. Fearing reprisals, Shama's relatives chose not to take any steps to ask those responsible for his death to be prosecuted.

Nevertheless, and in conformity with international human rights law which provides that States have a responsibility to investigate and prosecute grave human rights violations, Alkarama submitted Shama's case to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, to ask the Egyptian authorities to open an investigation into his death and bring the perpetrators to justice.

For more information or an interview, please contact the media team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Dir: +41 22 734 1007 Ext: 810)

 

Lebanon - HR Instruments

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

ICCPR: Accessed on 03.11.1972
Optional Protocol: No

State report: Overdue since 21.03.2001 (3rd)
Last concluding observations: 05.05.1997

Convention against Torture (CAT)

CAT: Accessed on 05.10.2000
Optional Protocol: Yes
Art. 20 (Confidential inquiry): Yes
Art. 22 (Individual communications): No

State report: Overdue since 03.11.2001 (1st)
Last concluding observations: N/A

International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED)

CED: Signed on 06.02.2007

Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

Last review: 11.2010 (1st cycle)
Next review: 2015 (2nd cycle)

National Human Rights Institution (NHRI)

No