The committee’s report claims that 624 protesters died in Rabaa Square alongside the approximately 150 that were killed in Nahda Square, far fewer than the approximately 1,150 deaths found by Human Rights Watch’s earlier report on the dispersals.
The Committee’s report also differed from Human Rights Watch’s report in its division of the blame for the violence. Whereas the Human Rights Watch report found that the military, led by then Field Marshal Sisi, planned and executed the systematic killing of demonstrators in what “likely amounted to a crime against humanity,” the committee report instead lays blame on multiple parties. It blames the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood in particular for inciting violence. According to the committee chairman, Fouad Abdel Moneim Riad, the demonstrators were responsible for initiating the violence at Rabaa Square, and the first death that resulted from the dispersal was of a policeman. The refusal of the peaceful elements among the protesters to leave the area and cease defending those among them who were armed caused the confusion of security forces and the high death toll, the report found.
The fault of the government, the report said, came from its refusal to disperse the sit-ins sooner, when they were still small and peaceful in nature. The report further found the Muslim Brotherhood responsible for inciting violence against Coptic Christians and the torching of 52 churches nationwide following the dispersals, as well as for violence on university campuses over the following year, which left 16 students dead.
In addition to its findings on the assignment of guilt in the case, the committee also released a number of recommendations for steps to be taken to redress the grievances of the people and prevent a similar relapse into violence. Notably, the report recommended that the government compensate the families of the victims and work harder to safeguard freedom of non-violent expression. It also suggested that the police forces reconsider the use of birdshot in dispersing demonstrations due to the excessive injuries its use creates and that they stress respect for human rights in training programs for new recruits. Finally, the report also urged the government to issue a new protest law, amending the draconian provisions of the one currently in place.
Sources:
“Rabaa leaders responsible for sit-in’s victims: fact finding committee” Aswat Masriya (English) 11/26/2014
“Fact-finding committee on post-Morsi violence offers recommendations” Ahram (English) 11/26/2014
“June 30 committee: Brotherhood responsible for campus rioting and recommends holding sessions with students rather than leaving them to those with extremist opinions” Shorouk (Arabic) 11/26/2014
