Report classifies Egyptian government actions as possible crimes against humanity

A new report says that the deaths of more than 1,000 protesters when the Egyptian security forces cleared away a protest at Rab'a al-Adawiya most likely constituted a crime against humanity.

The report was published by Human Rights Watch, which said the deaths of 1,150 people at various protest sites was a premeditated act on the behalf of the Egyptian state. The protesters were protesting the overthrow of the democratically elected president Mohammed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The moves against the protesters took place Aug. 14, 2013. They had occupied Rab'a al-Adawiya since Morsi was overthrown July 3.

Human Rights Watch says that witnesses and people who were at Rab'a said the authorities did not provide any warning that they would begin to use violence to disperse the protesters. They also said that most of the exits from Rab'a were blocked off, with security officials opening fire on those who tried to heed the government's admonitions to leave the square.

Doctors at a makeshift hospital in the square told Human Rights Watch the majority of the injuries they tried to treat were gunshot wounds to the head and chest. The doctors further alleged that snipers on adjacent rooftops opened fire on people as they tried to enter and exit the hospital.

The Egyptian government claimed that they had to use violence because of armed protesters, but in a crowd of thousands, they were only able to turn up 15 weapons. Adding credence to the argument that the vast majority of protesters were unarmed and posed no threat to security officials is the fact they walked upright and did not seek shelter as they cleared the square. Many also stood up on top of their vehicles, exposing themselves to gunfire, according to thousands of videos Human Rights Watch evaluated.

If armed protesters were truly a threat, the authorities would not have exhibited such behavior.