Morsi's 'prison escape' trial starts on anniversary of 'Friday of Anger'

The trial of Egypt’s ousted president Mohammed Morsi, along with 129 defendants began today on charges of “prison escape” during the 2011 revolution that toppled long-time dictator Hosni Mubarak.

Morsi was transferred by helicopter from his Borg Al-Arab prison in Alexandria to the court in eastern Cairo, the state news agency said Tuesday.

The case is dubbed in mainstream media as the “Wadi Al-Natroun prison-escape case”. Among the defendants is the General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood Mohamed Badie.

Officials accuse Morsi and other defendants of plotting to break out of prisons in collaboration with Palestinian and Lebanese militants during the 2011 revolution.

Morsi and the other defendants turned their backs to the court today in protest against what they consider a show trial, the state news agency reported. They were placed inside a glass cage to muffle their chants against the court during the trial.