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Egypt on Monday began to release detainees held by the military following a decree last week by President Mohamed Morsi, security officials told AFP.
"Prison authorities have begun releasing the detainees," an official told AFP.
Morsi, who was sworn in last month as Egypt's first elected civilian president, on Thursday issued an order to pardon 572 people convicted by military tribunals.
Activists and international rights groups have repeatedly called for the end to military trials of civilians which they say do not meet the requirements of independence and impartiality.
"International law is crystal-clear on this: no civilian, regardless of the crime, should be tried by a military court," Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said last week.
Egypt releases detainees held by military - Yahoo! News
"Prison authorities have begun releasing the detainees," an official told AFP.
Morsi, who was sworn in last month as Egypt's first elected civilian president, on Thursday issued an order to pardon 572 people convicted by military tribunals.
Activists and international rights groups have repeatedly called for the end to military trials of civilians which they say do not meet the requirements of independence and impartiality.
"International law is crystal-clear on this: no civilian, regardless of the crime, should be tried by a military court," Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said last week.
Egypt releases detainees held by military - Yahoo! News
