President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi posthumously honored Ibrahim Hammad, a militia fighter accused of war crimes in Sinai, amidst calls from international rights groups for investigation. The Sinai Foundation for Human Rights condemned the action, highlighting documented violations connected to Hammad. Evidence of his involvement in war crimes remains unaddressed by the Egyptian state, which has not pursued accountability for such acts.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has posthumously honored Ibrahim Hammad, a militia fighter implicated in war crimes in North Sinai, during an annual memorial event for armed forces casualties. Hammad was awarded the title of “martyr hero” and his mother received a symbolic recognition despite international human rights organizations calling for investigations into his actions. Hammad was killed on May 10, 2022, while involved in a military operation against alleged terrorists in the Sheikh Zuweid area.
The Sinai Foundation for Human Rights (SFHR), based in London, condemned Sisi’s remarks, highlighting documented evidence of Hammad’s involvement in extrajudicial killings of unarmed civilians, specifically in a 2017 incident that involved two brothers from the Rumailat tribe. According to SFHR, this honor is a profound affront to the victims and their families, contributing to a culture of impunity for such violations.
Evidence from Human Rights Watch (HRW) has classified Hammad’s actions as war crimes. A verified video from 2017 shows him executing detainees at point-blank range, with calls for accountability ignored as he continued his association with the military until his death. SFHR criticized the Egyptian state’s actions, asserting they signal a lack of intention to hold human rights violators accountable, effectively granting official protection to individuals like Hammad.
The conflict in Sinai, which involved the Egyptian army combating the Islamic State-affiliated Sinai Province, lasted nearly a decade, leading to the displacement of thousands of locals, many of whom have not returned home. Despite claims by the Egyptian military of defeating the militant group, HRW and SFHR exposed war crimes committed by both factions during the conflict, yet no inquiries or justice measures have been enacted by Cairo, which has even bestowed amnesty upon some of the militants following the war.
In summary, the honoring of Ibrahim Hammad by President el-Sisi highlights a troubling trend of impunity regarding allegations of war crimes in Egypt. Despite clear evidence of Hammad’s involvement in extrajudicial executions, state actions appear to protect rather than prosecute human rights violators. The ongoing lack of accountability and justice for victims underscores the need for thorough investigations into violations in the region.
Original Source: www.middleeasteye.net
