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Human Rights Watch on Tuesday publicly called for Egypt’s transitional government to stop trying civilians in military courts. In the months following the historic popular Egyptian uprising that lead to the resignation of Hosni Mubarak, Human Rights Watch states 5,600 civilians have been tried and sentenced by military tribunals. Human rights groups have also reported beatings, torture, and sexual assault at the hands of military security. Tuesday’s condemnation by Human Rights Watch came after a three-day meeting with officials of Egypt’s transitional government. The officials denied that transferring cases involving civilians was common practice and denied trying protestors by military tribunal. Human Rights Watch disputes that claim. Egypt’s officials have also been on the defensive against claims first reported by Amnesty International that soldiers tortured and sexually assaulted a group of female protestors in March. A group of 20 women were arrested from Tahrir Square on March 9th, slated for a military trial, and say they were subjected to strip searches, electric shocks, and so-called virginity tests. The military’s response has been mixed, but leans toward a denial of misconduct. Egyptian journalists are also under fire. The temporary detention of journalist Hossam El-Hamalawy has garnered a lot of attention.

GUESTS: Philip Rizk is an independent writer and filmmaker and a friend of journalist Hossam El-Hamalawy, Ghada Talhami, emeritus professor in the department of politics at Lake Forest College. Her books include “The Mobilization of Muslim Women in Egypt

ERRATUM: Hossam El-Hamalawy was not imprisoned – he was however, brought in for questioning by authorities but released because of his high profile.