Egypt aquits Muslim Brotherhood leaders of violence

An Egyptian court acquitted four Muslim Brotherhood leaders of charges of violence yesterday.

Al-Ismailia Criminal Court, led by Judge Amr Mokhtar, acquitted Muslim Brotherhood (MB) leader Essam El-Erian, Mohamed Wahdan – MB Shura Council member, Ali Abdullah – media spokesman, and Fouad Al-Shabrawy – member of the Freedom and Justice Party.

Meanwhile, six other defendants have been sentenced to six years in prison, while five others received six month prison terms.

The accusations include rioting and attacking public buildings following the dispersal of the Rabaa Al-Adawiya sit-in last August.

The charges are widely believed to be falsified and politically motivated, designed to pressure the MB to endorse the so called roadmap imposed by the army last July 3. The MB insists the current military installed authorities are the product of an illegitimate military coup and that democracy must be restored.