On the Thirteenth Anniversary of the Rabaa Massacre.. Delayed Justice Does Not Mean Denied Justice Crimes Against Humanity Do Not Expire
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Paris, 14 August 2026
Thirteen years have passed since the Rabaa al-Adawiya massacre, yet the images of the dead and wounded, the cries of children, and the blood of civilians shed in the sit-in squares remain living testimony to one of the bloodiest and most painful events in the region’s contemporary history. The scenes of the dispersal of the sit-in shook the conscience of the world, were widely reported by international media, and witnessed by millions. Local and international human rights organizations documented the deaths and injuries of large numbers of people during the dispersal, and their reports revealed the gravity of the crime committed against unarmed civilians.
The passage of years does not erase this tragedy, which prominent human rights organizations have described as one of the largest killings of peaceful protesters in a single day in modern history. More than 900 people were killed, according to documentation by independent international human rights organizations, with the actual death toll believed to have exceeded one thousand, in addition to thousands of people who were injured or imprisoned.
Nor does the passage of time erase the right of the victims and their families to truth, justice, and redress. Crimes and grave violations of human rights must not be shielded by silence or impunity.
Commemorating this painful anniversary is not intended to reopen the wounds of the past, but rather to remind the world that crimes against humanity must not pass without accountability, an independent and transparent investigation, and the punishment of those responsible.
Today, Free Voice renews its call upon the United Nations, the Human Rights Council, the relevant United Nations mechanisms, and all competent international and regional bodies:
- To fulfill their legal and moral responsibilities by working toward an independent, impartial, and transparent international investigation into the events surrounding the dispersal of the Rabaa sit-in; to establish the full truth; and to determine responsibility in accordance with international law.
- To guarantee the right of the victims and their families to justice, reparation, and protection against impunity.
- To preserve the memory of the victims and safeguard their right to recognition of what they endured, in order to prevent the truth from being erased or similar tragedies from being repeated.
- To reaffirm that the protection of the right to life and the right to peaceful assembly constitutes an obligation that must not be diminished under any circumstances.
Justice is not measured by the passage of time, rights do not expire with the statute of limitations, and human dignity must never be held hostage to political calculations. As we remember those who lost their lives on that day, we renew our solidarity with all victims and their families and affirm that building a future founded on peace and the rule of law can only be achieved by uncovering the truth, delivering justice to the victims, and firmly establishing the principle of accountability, so that such tragedies are never repeated anywhere.