EGYPT COURT SETS MONDAY FOR VERDICT IN MB MEMBERS TRIAL
Cairo, 21 Jumadil Awwal 1435/22 March 2014 (MINA) – An Egyptian court has set Monday, March 24, as the date to deliver a verdict in the trial of 545 Muslim Brotherhood members, the highest number of Brotherhood defendants to stand trial at one time, on violence charges.
During Saturday’s session, the trial judges rejected a request by the defense team of the 545 defendants for new judges.
The same court is expected to try 653 Muslim Brotherhood members, including group leader Mohamed Badie, in the same case on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, according to Anadolu Agency report quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).
All defendants face charges of committing violence in the Upper Egyptian province of Minya in August following the violent dispersal of protest camps in support of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.
Hundreds of pro-Morsi demonstrators were killed when their sit-ins in Cairo and Giza were violently dispersed by security forces in mid-August.
Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected president, was removed from power by the military last July following mass protests against his presidency.
Egypt’s military-backed authorities have launched a massive crackdown on the Brotherhood, which propelled Morsi to power in 2012, since his ouster, arresting thousands of members and sympathizers.
Twenty-three students at Cairo University were expelled over their alleged role in riots that took place last Wednesday.
According to the university’s statement issued on Friday, footage recorded by surveillance cameras showed the students engaged in riots and vandalism which included the destruction of the main gate and several offices at the Faculty of Law.
The students are also accused of raising the flag of Al-Qaeda on campus-an incident that also occurred at Al-Azhar university-and of halting the educational procedure.
Gaber Nasser, president of Cairo University stressed that the university’s decision is in accordance with the law and added that the administration is keen on applying the law to deal with rioters.(T/P04/E01)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
