Upon his first appearance in court, ousted Egyptian President, Mohammed Morsi, introduced himself before as “the legal president of Egypt,” and waved his hand with the Rabaa al-Adawiyya massacre symbol.
From inside the court, Morsi said, “I am Dr Mohammed Morsi, the legal president of the Arab Republic of Egypt.”
Witnesses said that he raised his hand to show the Rabaa Al-Adawiyya massacre symbol.
He said, “I am here because I fell (victim) to a crime, by the traitors who carried out a coup. They removed me from my position. Since I separate the judiciary from having taken part in such a crime, I place responsibility on the judge.”
Morsi also said, “The order to prosecute me is invalid since the public prosecutor is illegal and he was appointed by the coup authorities.”
The hearing session started at 10.00 am, Cairo time. It was planned to take place in the Appeal Court’s headquarters in Cairo, but was later moved to the court at the Police Academy.
Many anti-coup journalists and advocates were prevented from attending the proceedings. The hearing session was then postponed because security sources claimed that there were “security threats.”
Witnesses said that Morsi had chanted, “Down with the military coup.” They said that the other Muslim Brotherhood leaders, who were in the same dock, repeated the same chant after him.