Ten years ago, Egypt was rocked by a tragic event that has since gone down in history as one of the darkest moments for the country’s fragile democracy. On August 14, 2013, the Rabaa al-Adawiya sit-in in Cairo was violently dispersed by Egyptian security forces, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people.
This brutal crackdown, which targeted supporters of the ousted Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Mursi, marked a turning point in the country’s political landscape and led to a widespread crackdown on activists and politicians from all sides of the political spectrum.
According to rights groups, over 800 people lost their lives as security forces stormed the Rabaa al-Adawiya square, one of two major protest sites in the capital. The peaceful demonstrations, which had been ongoing for weeks, called for the reinstatement of Egypt’s first democratically elected president, who had been removed from power in a military coup. What began as a show of dissent quickly turned into a scene of violence and bloodshed, leaving families devastated and a nation in shock.
Official accounts of the events that unfolded on that fateful day paint a different picture. According to state-backed narratives, security forces were forced to respond to armed attacks from the protesters after making multiple attempts to peacefully disperse the crowd. However, these claims have been widely disputed by human rights organisations, who argue that the use of excessive force was unjustifiable and that a peaceful resolution could have been sought.
In the aftermath of the sit-in killings, Egypt held a mass trial in 2018, where hundreds of individuals were accused of involvement in the protest. Many of them were handed harsh sentences, including death sentences and lengthy prison terms. However, rights groups have criticised these trials, citing concerns about due process and fair representation. They argue that the Egyptian authorities have failed to hold anyone truly accountable for the largest mass killing in the country’s modern history.
Ten years on, the wounds inflicted on that tragic day have yet to heal. Families of the victims, survivors, and human rights defenders continue to fight for truth, justice, and reparations. They are calling on the international community, particularly states with influence over Egypt, to support their demands and hold the Egyptian authorities accountable for their actions.
Amnesty International has echoed these sentiments, emphasising the need for transparency and accountability. They argue that the international community cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of the victims and their families and must take a stand for justice. Human Rights Watch has also joined the chorus, highlighting the failure of Egyptian authorities to address the grievances of the victims and their families.
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, a prominent independent group, released a report shedding light on the use of lethal force during the dispersal of a sit-in protest in Egypt. According to the report, the organisation obtained undisclosed information from an official investigation, of which only the executive summary was made public. The findings of the investigation revealed that the authorities had considered using less lethal methods to disperse the protest.
The EIPR report has raised serious concerns regarding the response of the Egyptian authorities to the sit-in protest, which took place following the ouster of then-president Mohamed Mursi in 2013. Supporters of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi argue that the security measures implemented at that time were necessary to restore stability in the country.
The official figures provided by the state forensic authority recorded the deaths of 618 civilians and nine security personnel during the dispersal at the Rabaa sit-in. However, the EIPR asserts that these numbers only account for the bodies received by the state forensic authority, suggesting that the actual death toll may be higher.
Hossam Bahgat, the head of EIPR, emphasised the importance of accountability in this matter. According to Bahgat, it is crucial to assign individual responsibility for the excessive use of force during the dispersal, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.
The EIPR report highlights the need for transparent and thorough investigations into cases of excessive force used by law enforcement during protests. The organisation calls for greater accountability and urges the authorities to address the concerns raised by the report. It is essential to establish a culture of accountability, ensuring that every individual involved in such incidents is held responsible for their actions.
These findings have significant implications not only for Egypt but also for other countries grappling with similar issues. It is vital for governments to prioritise the protection of citizens’ rights, including their right to peaceful assembly, and to undertake necessary measures to prevent excessive use of force by security forces.
How many people died in the Rabaa massacre?
The tragedy that unfolded during the Rabaa massacre left a devastating impact on Egypt and its people. According to the findings of Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights, at least 624 civilians lost their lives during this horrifying event.
These innocent people, who were part of a peaceful sit-in at the Rabaa al-Adawiya Mosque, were brutally attacked, their lives abruptly cut short. However, shocking as it may seem, this death toll is disputed by other groups. The Muslim Brotherhood and the National Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy, for instance, claim that the number of deaths from the Rabaa al-Adawiya Mosque sit-in alone exceeded a staggering 2,600.
Such a vast difference in reported figures highlights the complexity and controversy surrounding this tragic incident. Regardless of the exact number, there is no denying the immense loss and deep sorrow that still haunts the memories of those affected by the Rabaa massacre. It is a painful reminder of the violent acts that can occur in a society striving for justice and freedom.
