Egypt mourns Hisham Barakat killing, cancels June 30 celebrations

Cairo: Condemning the bomb attack killing Egypt's Public Prosecutor Hisham Barakat, Amnesty International on Tuesday called for action against the perpetrators after “fair trials without recourse to the death penalty”.

Egypt's Public Prosecutor Hisham Barakat was being driven to work on Monday morning in the district of Heliopolis when a car laden with explosives was detonated, setting fire to nearby cars as well.

Hisham succumbed to shrapnel wounds and was pronounced dead in the afternoon.

The killing of Egypt's Public Prosecutor a "despicable cowardly &cold-blooded act of murder" http://t.co/62qwkowzaR pic.twitter.com/S9UcQBZvXW — AmnestyInternational (@AmnestyOnline) June 29, 2015

Calling the prosecutor's killing as “despiable and cold blooded act of murder” top Amnesty official Said Boumedouha said that judges and prosecutors must be free to do their jobs without the threat of violence.

However, he added that the “Egyptian authorities must not use such threats as a pretext for trampling upon human rights”.

The Amnesty official was referring to the mass death sentences being handed to Muslim Brotherhood leaders and other Islamist leaders in what many consider as unfair trials.

The assassination of Egypt's chief prosecutor came just a day before the second anniversary of mass demonstrations held against former president Mohamed Morsi that culminated in his ouster and arrest by the military in July 2013.

The assassination was claimed by a small militant group named "Popular Resistance in Giza". However, the claim was not verified.

65-year-old Hisham Barakat was apparently targeted because he had led the prosecution of thousands of members of the Brotherhood and other Islamists including Morsi.

A military funeral will be held for Hisham Barakat.

The United States too condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms", assuring that America "stands firmly with the Egyptian government in its efforts to confront terrorism". 

US condemns in strongest possible terms the terrorist attack which killed #Egypt Public Prosecutor Hisham Barakat. http://t.co/O346wMjQhV — Department of State (@StateDept) June 29, 2015

Meanwhile, as the country braced to mourn the death of Barakat, the celebrations planned in wake of the second anniversary of June 30 uprising, has been cancelled.

"Celebrations will be cancelled as the country mourns Egyptian General Prosecutor Hisham Barakat, who was assassinated on Monday," a statement by the presidency said.

"Egypt has lost a great judicial figure who has shown dedication to work and commitment to the ethics of the noble judicial profession," the statement said.

Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb had earlier announced that June 30 would be an official, public holiday celebrating the anniversary of the June 30 uprising.