Lawyers boycott final session of trial of Muslim Brotherhood leader

The defence team of Muslim Brotherhood General Guide Mohamed Badie said will boycott Saturday’s court session which is expected to announce the death sentence against Badie and 683 others following the Mufti’s non-binding review.

According to Ossama al-Helw, a lawyer in Badie’s defence team, the entire team will boycott the session in protest against the flawed judicial proceedings that led to the verdicts.

In statements to Anadolu agency, Al-Helw pointed out that Badie is tried in absentia due to his imprisonment in Cairo on other charges, although the law stipulates that the defendant has to attend the hearings.

Al-Helw pointed out that his team will challenge the ruling at the same court, demanding a retrial for those who have been tried in absentia.

As for those who attended the hearings, they will file an appeal with the Court of Appeals.

On Thursday, another court sentenced Badie and 13 others to death on charges of incitement to violence.

Since the July 3 military coup against president Mohamed Morsi, Egyptian authorities have been accusing supporters of the ousted president of violence and terrorism, which many view as an attempt to cover up the mass killings of protesters in Rabaa and other massacres. The Muslim Brotherhood, however, insists it adheres to peaceful resistance of the coup.