By Justin Dorman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt  – The death sentences for twenty-one individuals deemed responsible for the February football riots of last year have been upheld. Twenty-four others, including two police officers were sentenced to jail, while twenty-eight others were acquitted. The court’s ruling was televised throughout Egypt, and was met by much protest.

The football riots occurred in Port Said during February 2012 when the local Al-Masry squad was taking on Cairo’s out-of-town, Al-Ahly. When the game ended, a majority of Al-Masry supporters stormed the pitch, while the police locked the stadium gates, turned off the electricity, and kept away from the violence. Many who tried to escape the stadium were trampled in the process. Seventy-four people died as a result of the riots. Most of the deceased were supporters of Al-Ahly.

After the verdict was announced, hundreds of Al-Masry supporters congregated outside of the local government headquarters of Port Said calling for independence. Football fan Mohamed Ataya said that, “what we need now is to separate from the rest of the country,” after describing how his friend was given jail time for “helping to carry the dead outside the stadium.” Others thought the towns inhabitants were “scapegoated” in the verdict, and yearned for the military enforced curfew to be removed.

Many in Port Said attacked the Egyptian Football Federation and set it ablaze. Others in Port Said released docked speedboats in an effort to block the Suez canal before the military intervened. There has been only one reported death so far.

The police of Port Said locked themselves in the safety of their station. Since the trial began a month ago, at least fifty people have died. Most of these deaths have come as a result of police gunfire. Police forces in ten of Egypt’s twenty-nine provinces have gone on strike to demonstrate against President Morsi’s use of the police in quashing protesters.

In Cairo, supporters of Al-Ahly rejoiced upon first hearing of the court’s result, but then quickly became angered. While they initially were happy that more Al-Masry supporters were sentenced, they were enraged that only two out of the nine police officers, who were charged, ended up convicted. Many believe that the police’s actions in locking the gates and turning off the lights contributed tremendously to the deaths of those seventy four individuals.

Many Al-Ahly supporters attempted to block Cairo’s important October Bridge. Two other protesters were killed in Cairo by police. One died after inhaling tear gas while the other’s life was taken by bird shot. These deaths are said to have been unrelated to the football trial.

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Deadly Egypt Riots Follow Football Verdicts – 9 March 2013

BBC – Unrest in Egypt Over Port Said Football Riot Sentences – 9 March 2013

Guardian – Egyptian Court Confirms Death Sentences for Port Said Football Rioters – 9 March 2013

Daily Star Lebanon – Clashes in Egypt Port Said as Police Move Prisoners – 3 March 2013