Islamist preacher Hegazy acquitted in Brotherhood headquarters case

Al-Sayed Gamaleddine , Saturday 14 Sep 2013

Safwat Hegazy acquitted in one case; still detained facing other charges for incidents in Ramsis Square and outside Presidential Palace

 Hegazy
Safwat Hegazy (Photo: Al-Ahram)

Islamist preacher and Muslim Brotherhood ally Safwat Hegazy has been acquitted for charges of 'inciting violence' at the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters on 30 June, which left eight dead.

Hegazy, who was detained earlier in August, still faces a number of other charges, including incitement of 15 July clashes between supporters of ousted president Morsi and police forces in Ramsis Square, Downtown Cairo.

He is being accused of 'inciting' the attempted storming of Al-Azbakeya police station, near Ramsis Square, as well as for targeting policemen with firearms.

Hegazy also faces charges of 'attempted murder' and 'incitement of violence' against opponents of deposed president Mohamed Morsi within the pro-Morsi protest camps in Cairo's Rabaa Al-Adawiya Square and Giza’s Al-Nahda Square, as well as for his role in earlier clashes between supporters and opponents of Morsi at the Presidential Palace in December.

Following the violent dispersal of the pro-Morsi sit-ins on 14 August, security forces have carried out mass arrests of prominent members of the Muslim Brotherhood, many of whom have been charged with 'inciting violence.'

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