CRI听力:UN Condemns Egypt's Mass Snap Trial

The United Nations is strongly condemning a snap trial and the death sentences handed down this week to over 500 members of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

Rupert Colville is spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

"Such a sentencing en masse of people to the death penalty is really appalling. You can't possibly have a fair trial in two days of one person, let alone of 529. Three quarters of them, more than three quarters, just under 400 people, weren't even present in court. The judge didn't even read out the names of all the people."

An Egyptian court has handed down the death sentence to 529 suspects connected to a deadly attack on a police station.

One police officer was killed during the attack.

The two-day mass trial is the largest single batch of death sentences handed down around the world in recent years.

Defense lawyers were not allowed to present their case.

At the same time, the US government is also sharply criticizing the trial, asking the Egyptian government to respect human rights.

US State Department spokesperson Marie Harf.

"Today we call on the government of Egypt from politically motivated detentions, charges and trials, and to ensure that all in Egypt are afforded the fair trial safeguards they are guaranteed under international law."

The mass sentence, if carried out, is likely to affect a proposed aid deal to Egypt from the United States.