Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia (Ikram) is utterly appalled at the recent execution of Mahmoud Ramadan by the Egyptian regime. We totally deplore this inhumane and despicable act which went against the norms of international justice.

Mahmoud was one of those hundreds of people who were sentenced to death in mass trials that were described as being far below acceptable international standards of legal proceedings. In fact, the UN Human Rights chief at that time condemned the trials as being obscene and a complete travesty of justice.

Also the African Union considered the trial proceedings a complete sham, with a guilty conviction meted out without even calling for a proper defence. They even sent a letter to the Head of the Egyptian regime, Abdel Fatteh al-Sisi, on Feb 26, 2015 to urge an immediate suspension of the death penalty of Mahmoud Ramadan.

However, the reaction of the Egyptian regime to the letter, by executing Mahmoud Ramadan showed that it had total disregard of the African Union and international law. Other leading international lawyers also expressed their disgust at this heinous act following wholesale unfair trials.

Hence, we urge the Malaysian government to condemn this atrocious act of injustice and uge an immediate suspension of all death penalties meted out during the outrageous court proceedings which made a mockery of justice.

We also urge the international community to berate this diabolical act of transgression of justice and to compel the Egyptian regime to immediately suspend all death penalties.

 

DR MOHD PARID SHEIKH AHMAD is president, Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia.