Alkarama's representatives in Egypt counted more than 300 bodies in the medical centers of Rabaa Al Adaweya Square in Cairo, during the siege of the square by security forces last Wednesday 14 August. Since then, Alkarama has being working to confirm a preliminary list of more than 1000 names of victims, submitted by their families, and who were killed all over Egypt on this same day. On Thursday 15 August, Egyptian Health Ministry officials confirmed the death toll for Wednesday was at 700 and earlier today, Baroness Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative described "the toll of death and injury [as] shocking." Such a high number of deaths throughout the country clearly demonstrates the widespread and systematic nature of the attacks.
Following Wednesday's violent crackdown, interim Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi declared that "the state had to intervene to restore security and peace for Egyptians," as demonstrators had been "terrorising citizens, attacking public and private property." Though demonstrators used rocks and batons to defend themselves against heavily armed security forces, and allegations of some armed protestors were reported, such a statement clearly aims to paint all protestors as violent and aiming to attack government forces. In such a context, the Interior Minister's order for "all forces to use live ammunition to counter any attacks on government buildings or forces", effectively gives the security forces authorization to fire at will into overwhelmingly peaceful protests.
Such statements by the interim President, Prime Minister and Interior Minister, as well as by the Head of the Army, show that far from simply having knowledge of the attack, clear orders were given for these attacks on the civilian population.
Although Egypt is not a party to the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court, given these circumstances, Alkarama has urged the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to bring the situation in Egypt to the attention of the UN Security Council which can, in line with article 13 of the Statute, refer "a situation in which one or more of such crimes appears to have been committed [...] to the Prosecutor [of the International Criminal Court]".
UN human rights experts this morning warned that "Egypt is facing an escalating and deeply worrying human rights crisis." Alkarama hopes that the international community will play its role in averting this crisis and protect the rights of the Egyptian people, whose peaceful revolution only two years ago was an inspiration to populations around the world hoping to one day live in freedom and under the rule of the law.