File Photo: Egypt’s most prominent activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah (AP Photo)
Cairo Criminal Court listened Saturday to the defence in the trial of activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah and 24 other activists, where lawyer Taher Abul-Nasr accused the police of violating the defendants' rights throughout the case.
Abul-Nasr said Abdel-Fattah's rights were violated in many ways, starting when security forces stormed his bedroom, taking his laptop and cell phone and transporting him to the police station barefoot.
Meanwhile, defence lawyer Khaled Ali complained that the case includes no substantive investigation reports by police.
The accused were sentenced to 15 years in prison in June for violating the widely criticised protest law, assaulting a policeman, inciting riots, blocking traffic and vandalising public property.
On 26 November 2013, several hundred demonstrators gathered outside the Shura Council shortly after the law restricting protests was passed to urge the 50-member panel that wrote Egypt's new constitution to vote against an article that allows for military trials of civilians.
Police dispersed the protest using water cannons and tear gas before arresting the defendants.
The court adjourned the trial to 10 January to listen to the rest of the defence arguments.
In the last session, on 20 December, the prosecution argued in a closing speech that the defendants "are not true revolutionaries and seek the country's destruction."
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