File photoL Riot police take their positions as protesters and activists called for demonstrations on the third anniversary of the Mohamed Mahmoud violent clashes in central Cairo November 19, 2014 (Photo: Reuters)
An Egyptian criminal court postponed on Saturday a scheduled final verdict for 784 defendants, including major Muslim Brotherhood leaders, who are accused of crimes including murder in a case related to the 2013 Rabaa El-Adawiya sit-in.
The court will issue its final ruling on 28 July, according to the judges, citing security reasons for the postponement.
Defendants including the top spiritual leader of the banned Muslim Brotherhood group, Mohamed Badie, and many others, were involved in the 2013 sit-in.
The case has been in court for the past two and half years, during which time a large number of witnesses have been heard.
The list of defendants also includes leading and prominent Brotherhood figures Essam El-Erian, Mohamed El-Beltagy, Bassem Oudah, Abdel Rahman El-Barr, Safwat Hegazy, Ossama Yassin, Wagdi Ghoneim, Essam Sultan as well as photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid, known as Shawkan.
Defendants are charged with organising and participating in an armed gathering in Rabaa El-Adawiya square, murder, the destruction of buildings, public and private property and electric cables by force for terrorist purposes, and possession of explosives, firearms, ammunition and bladed weapons.
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