The Egyptian Front for Human Rights (EFHR) monitored throughout 2024 the continued issuance, upholding, and execution of death sentences by Egyptian authorities and courts against defendants in both criminal and politically motivated cases. This persists despite ongoing local and international calls for the Egyptian authorities to abolish the death penalty or at least suspend its use as a step toward abolition. This issue was also highlighted recently by the number of international demands directed at Egypt during the Universal Periodic Review of its human rights record in January 2025.
By monitoring the status of the death penalty and comparing it with the previous year, it can be observed that this year witnessed a slight increase in the issuance of death sentences by civil criminal courts, as well as in the execution of death sentences. Egyptian courts issued at least 380 death sentences in 2024, compared to 348 death sentences in 2023. Authorities also executed death sentences against at least 13 people in 2024, compared to at least 8 people in 2023. Additionally, regarding the issuance of final death sentences by the Court of Cassation, at least 35 death sentences were upheld in 2024, compared to 27 death sentences upheld in 2023.
The monitoring indicates that Egyptian authorities continue to use the death penalty in politically motivated cases. Egyptian courts persist in issuing death sentences across a variety of cases, as Egyptian law permits the application of the death penalty for 104 crimes outlined in several pieces of legislation, including the Penal Code No. 58 of 1937 and its amendments, the Military Judiciary Law No. 25 of 1966, the Weapons and Ammunition Law No. 394 of 1954, and the Anti-Narcotics Law No. 182 of 1960.
The death penalty in Egypt faces numerous issues, including its application to a wide range of crimes beyond serious offenses. Additionally, many defendants in these cases experience violations of their right to a fair trial, despite international covenants and treaties guaranteeing such protections—particularly in cases where the death penalty may be imposed.
First: Execution of Death Sentences
EFHR monitored the authorities’ execution of death sentences against at least 13 people in 6 cases, all of which were criminal cases. No death sentences were carried out during this period against individuals in political cases.
Second: Death Sentences
Throughout 2024, EFHR recorded the issuance of death sentences against at least 380 people in 255 cases by Egyptian courts. Among them, 31 people in at least 9 political violence cases, all of which were handled by civil courts. The sentences were distributed as follows:
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Case No. 3257 of 2023, Marg Criminal Court: Two individuals were sentenced to death in relation to the case known in the media as “Hazemon.”
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Case No. 5541 of 2013, Gamaliya Criminal Court: Known as “The Popular Committees of Gamaliya,” where 5 individuals were sentenced to death.
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Case No. 9 of 2021, Cairo New Court of Felonies: Known as “The Platform Events,” where 8 individuals were sentenced to death.
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ISIS Case: One person was sentenced to death.
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Case No. 383 of 2023, State Security Criminal Court: Known as “ISIS Kerdasa Group,” where 2 individuals were sentenced to death.
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Case No. 13052 of 2022, Agouza Criminal Court: Known in the media as “Agouza Group,” where 9 individuals were sentenced to death.
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Case No. 9 of 2014, North Giza Criminal Court: Known in the media as “The Assassination of Major General Nabil Farag,” where 1 individual was sentenced to death.
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Case No. 31369 of 2023, Marg Criminal Court: Known in the media as “Marg Group,” where 2 individuals were sentenced to death.
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Case No. 6482 of 2022, Al-Shorouk Criminal Court: Known as “Ismailia Group,” where 1 individual was sentenced to death.
On the other hand, during the same period, Egyptian criminal courts issued death sentences against 332 individuals in 217 criminal cases.
Third: Upholding Death Sentences
Throughout 2024, EFHR recorded the Court of Cassation’s upholding of 35 death sentences in at least 18 cases. Among these rulings, 13 death sentences were upheld in at least 3 political cases, which are:
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Case No. 1360 of 2021, Emergency State Security Criminal Court, Nozha: Known in the media as “Helwan Brigades,” where the court upheld the death sentence against 7 individuals.
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Case No. 85 of 2017, Shebin El-Kom Criminal Court, where the court upheld the death sentence against 2 individuals.
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Case No. 347 of 2022, Supreme State Security Criminal Court: Known as “Wilayat Sudan,” where the Court of Cassation upheld the death sentence against 4 individuals.
Comparison of Death Sentence Statistics in Previous Years
Comparison of Execution of Death Penalty Statistics in Previous Years