Egyptian Coptic Christians after Sunday's mass at Two Saints Church in Alexandria, where 21 worshippers were killed Saturday in an apparent suicide bombing (Photo by: AP)
The trial of eight activists arrested last year during demonstrations held to condemn the 2011 New Year's Eve church bombing in Alexandria was adjourned on Sunday until 28 May.
The court is currently examining an appeal filed by the activists, who were each sentenced in March to two years in prison, but have yet to serve jail time.
Mohamed Nagy and Mustafa Shawky (of the Justice and Freedom Youth Movement); Mohamed Atef and Mustafa Mohi (the Socialist Renewal Current); Tamer El-Saady (the April 6 Youth Movement); and independent activists Ahmed Refaat Diaaeddin Rabie and Amr Ahmed have all been charged with assaulting police personnel and destroying police equipment.
The eight were initially arrested after participating in a sit-in at the Church of the Virgin (Al-Adra) in the Al-Masarra neighbourhood in Cairo's Shubra district to demand the resignation of then-interior minister Habib El-Adly for the latter's perceived inability to protect Egypt's churches.
According to the defendants' testimonies, the arrests came during a security crackdown on their sit-in protest. They claim that they were picked up by police based on their religions, which are written on their respective national identity cards.
The eight say they were the only Muslims present at the sit-in.
The Two Saints Church in Egypt's coastal city of Alexandria was bombed on 31 December 2011, leaving 21 dead and over 70 injured. No one has ever been held accountable for the crime, while investigations remain technically ongoing.
The church attack sent shockwaves through Egypt, triggering mass demonstrations in both Cairo and Alexandria. The ensuing protests were seen by some observers as precursors to last year's January 25 Revolution, which culminated in the ouster of longstanding Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.
Shortly after the incident, a number of people were arrested – and allegedly tortured – in connection with the bombings.
El-Sayed Belal, a young Alexandria resident of Salafist leanings arrested by police on suspicions of involvement in the church bombing, died while in police custody and is believed to have been tortured to death. Five police officers are currently on trial for their alleged role in Belal's death.
A popular campaign has since been launched to show solidarity with the eight activists arrested during the Church of the Virgin protest. Dozens attended their hearing on Sunday while several press conferences have been recently held calling for their acquittal.
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