URGENT: 528 men sentenced to death in mass trial

More than 500 sentenced to death in grotesque ruling in Egypt.

Stop this mass execution. Egypt is planning to execute more than 528 men – supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi – for their role in a riot that turned violent. It is the largest number of death sentences handed down in one case in recent years, handed down after only two hearings. The ruling is grotesque. But the Egyptian authorities may yield to local and international pressure to overturn the convictions. Join Amnesty International in urging Egyptian authorities to overturn the 528 death sentences. Dear Tracy, An Egyptian court has shocked the world by issuing a mass death sentence to 528 supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi for their alleged role in a riot last July that turned violent. This is the largest number of death sentences handed down in one case Amnesty International has seen in recent years. This is not justice. It's the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, and it could be an attempt to wipe out political opposition. Raise your voice to help Amnesty stop this gross violation of human rights! Urge Egyptian authorities to overturn the mass sentence and order fair retrials. In a trial that "defied plausibility," 528 men were convicted in just two sessions. More than 400 of those convicted were tried in absentia. No witnesses. No review of evidence. No time for the defense to read 3,000 pages of case documents. On the second day of trial, defense lawyers were blocked from the court! Does this sound like a fair trial to you? Ratchet up the pressure on Egyptian authorities before it's too late. Egypt's authorities are quick to punish Morsi supporters, but have ignored gross human rights violations by the security forces. If this astounding sentence is carried out, there will be serious concerns about whether Egypt's criminal justice system has anything to do with justice. The cases have been referred to Egypt's highest religious figure, the Grand Mufti, for his advisory opinion. The last resort for averting this human rights catastrophe is to take this to Egypt's supreme court. You can help stop this mass, grotesque violation of human rights: sign Amnesty's petition calling on Egyptian authorities to overturn the 528 death sentences. Thanks for all you do to defend human rights for all. In solidarity, Sunjeev Bery Director, Middle East and North Africa Amnesty International USA