Press release
Geneva – April 28, 2024
The Egyptian Court of Cassation upheld the death sentences of two defendants and commuted the sentences of four others in the “Specific Committees in Monufia” case during its April 24, 2024 session.
Anas Ahmed Khleifi, a graduate of Menoufia University’s Faculty of Education, and Salah Mohamed Beheiry, an agricultural engineer, had their death sentences affirmed by the Court of Cassation. Meanwhile, the court reduced the death sentences of Mustafa Saad al-Qassas, Suhaib al-Sayed Younis, Mohamed Sami, and Ahmed Nasser to 25 years in prison.
This decision stems from an earlier ruling by the Shebin al-Kom Criminal Court in Menoufia Governorate on September 4, 2022, in Case No. 85 of 2017 (Shebin al-Kom Felonies).
However, the Committee for Justice (CFJ) has strongly denounced the Court of Cassation’s verdict. The CFJ is urging a suspension of the ruling and advocating for a retrial, citing international calls for a moratorium on the death penalty and the need for fair trial standards.
The CFJ emphasizes the necessity for Egypt to reconsider the use of mass and politicized death sentences, echoing widespread condemnation from UN and international bodies. They call for a legal process that aligns with universally recognized justice and due process principles.