494 Morsi supporters to be tried in December

An Egyptian court has set the date of December 1 for the start of the first session in the trial of 494 supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi in Al-Fateh Mosque case.

A statement issued by the Cairo Court of Appeal said that December 1 has been earmarked for the first session of the trial of 494 imprisoned Morsi supporters, following the events that took place on August 16, 2013.

Public prosecutor Hisham Barakat referred 494 defendants to the Criminal Court; the suspects are charged with “being involved in violence, murder and assault against police forces, and setting fire to facilities and private properties in August 2013 in Ramses area – around Al-Fateh Mosque and Azbakia police department, resulting in the killing of 210 persons.”

Meanwhile, the Minya Criminal Court has postponed the trial of 15 Muslim Brotherhood members, accused of planning acts of violence and riots, to December 16. According to a judicial source, the defendants include the Muslim Brotherhood Deputy General Guide Mahmoud Ezzat.

The defendants were arrested in Samalut, Minya governorate, last February, after they were found in possession of regulated documents, books and leaflets. The referral decision explained that Ezzat cooperated with the defendants in the leadership of a “terrorist group”.

The prosecution also accused the defendants of committing acts of violence and incitement aimed at overthrowing the regime, stirring strikes, targeting the national economy, and working to increase strikes and chaos, as well as being members of a “terrorist group”.

In another case, the North Cairo Criminal Court delayed the trial of 80 Morsi supporters to October 19, following the violent events which took place in Rod El-Farag, Cairo, after the dispersal of the Rabaa and Al-Nahda sit-ins in August 2013.

The defendants are accused of murder and attempted murder, disturbing the peace and security, joining a terrorist group, and destroy public and private property.

The Muslim Brotherhood accuses the Egyptian authorities of targeting it and “fabricating” charges against them since the overthrow of Morsi on July 3, 2013, an accusation that the Egyptian authorities deny.