UN human rights chief worried over Brotherhood crackdown

The UN’s human rights czar expressed worry Friday over the crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, calling for the end of “arbitrary detention” of the Islamist group’s members.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay also criticized Egypt for failing to “move towards a truly tolerant and inclusive society,” and said she was disturbed by the reports of sexual violence on the streets in Egypt.

“There should be no more violence, no arbitrary detention, no illegal acts of retribution. Serious steps should also be taken to halt, and investigate, the appalling — and at times seemingly organized — sexual violence targeting women protestors,” she said in a statement.

The Egyptian military has arrested dozens of Muslim brotherhood leaders, including deposed president Mohammed Morsi, and the movement’s leader, Mohammed Badie, since taking power in a coup on Wednesday. Some 200 arrest warrants for Brotherhood members have been issued, according to officials.

Pillay also called on authorities to deal harshly with any attempts at retribution after the Islamists’ year in power.

“I urge all parts of Egyptian society to exercise these rights in a peaceful manner, so as to avoid any further loss of life,” she said in the statement. “I also urge a major effort by all political parties, and the authorities, to deter and punish any acts of vengeance.”

A day earlier, rights groups slammed the military for shutting down media outlets, in an apparent bid to keep Morsi and his supporters from airing their views.

The London-based Amnesty International called the shutdowns a “blow to freedom of expression.”

The New-York based Committee to Protect Journalists said the crackdown was part of “a worrying series of moves that seemed designed to cut off coverage of pro-Morsi events.”

The Arab Network for Human Rights Information called the moves “a clear violation of the law and stifling freedom of expression.” The group, based in Cairo, said while some programs aired on these stations carried at times “hate speech” and incited Morsi supporters to violence, that does not justify shutting the stations down.

Amnesty said Egypt’s armed forces and the police have a well-documented record of human rights violations that must not be repeated.

“In this time of great tension and with the constitution suspended, it is more important than ever that the military comply with Egypt’s obligations under international human rights law,” said Salil Shetty, General Secretary of Amnesty International.