Egypt's Brotherhood figures to stand trial in Sept on torture charges
El-Sayed Gamaleddine , Tuesday 13 Aug 2013
Mohamed El-Beltagi, Safwat Hegazy and two field doctors face trial over charges of torturing two policemen at pro-Morsi sit-in


The trial of leading Brotherhood figures on charges of torture at a pro-Morsi sit-in in Cairo will begin on 7 September.

The Court of Cassation has set the date for the trial of senior Muslim Brotherhood figure Mohamed El-Beltagi and Islamic preacher Safwat Hegazy on charges of detaining and torturing two policemen at the sit-in being staged by supporters of Mohamed Morsi in Rabaa Al-Adawiya Square.

Also facing trial on the same accusations are two doctors who work at the sit-in field hospital, Mohamed Mahmoud Ali El-Zanaty and Abdel-Azim Ibrahim.

The four are accused of detaining two policemen during a pro-Morsi rally, keeping them in the vicinity of the sit-in, and physically assaulting them.

Several media reports have suggested that torture has been carried out at the pro-Morsi camps at Rabaa and in Al-Nahda Square in Giza.

On 2 August, Amnesty International issued a statement saying it has collected evidence and testimonies that point towards torture at the sites.

The statement said that at least eight bodies arrived at the morgue in Cairo between late June and 28 July, and at least five of these were found near areas where pro-Morsi sit-ins were being held.

Supporters of Morsi — namely the Muslim Brotherhood and its Islamist allies — been staging two sit-ins, at Rabaa Al-Adawiya in the Nasr City district of Cairo and Al-Nahda Square in Giza, as well as daily rallies demanding Morsi's reinstatement since his popularly-backed army ouster 3 July.

A number of Brotherhood figures and allies are facing trial or have been detained pending investigation in recent weeks. Many key figures, including Mohamed Morsi

On 25 August, a Cairo criminal court will begin the trial of six Brotherhood leaders –including Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie and his deputy Khairat El-Shater – on charges of inciting the murder of protesters at the Brotherhood's headquarters in the Cairo district of Moqattam.

At least eight were killed in clashes outside the headquarters on 28 June after it was stormed and ransacked by angry protesters.

El-Shater has been detained since 6 July, while an arrest warrant was issued on 28 July for Badie.

Also facing trial for the Brotherhood headquarters clashes are leading members Mostafa El-Beshlawi, Mohamed El-Beshlawi, Atef El-Semari and Mohamed Rashad Bayoumi.

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