Scene from a "Day of Rage" in Egypt held on Friday August 16, 2013. Over 60 have been killed., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Islamists say Morsi trial a 'farce,' defy Egypt authorities
Ahram Online, Sunday 3 Nov 2013
Supporters of Egypt's deposed president warn authorities against broadcasting Morsi's 'null, illegal' trial on Monday
Supporters of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi have refused to recognise his upcoming trial, asserting that it is "farcical" and "null."
Morsi, who was ousted on 3 July after massive protests against his rule, is due to appear in court on Monday alongside 14 other senior Islamists and Muslim Brotherhood figures on charges of inciting violence.
If found guilty, Morsi and his co-defendants could face lifetime imprisonment or the death penalty.
The National Alliance to Support Legitimacy, a pro-Morsi coalition backed by his Muslim Brotherhood, described the trial as a "farce" and "absurd," decrying what they called a "null, illegal" measure against the country's first freely elected president.
"The farcical, absurd trial the coup organisers are holding next Monday is nothing but a naive attempt to break our will and drain that of the resistant president," the Alliance announced in a Sunday statement on Facebook.
Morsi supporters accuse the army of staging a 'coup' against the elected president and reversing the democratic gains of the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak. However, the military says it was merely responding to the people's 'will' after millions took to the street to protest Morsi's one-year divisive rule.
"What is happening now is a flagrant breach of all standards, laws and norms," the statement read. It also lambasted the "disgraceful performance of the judiciary, which has become a tool at the hands of the military...used in a political conflict to crush rights and laws."
Tensions are running high across Egypt on the eve of Morsi's trial, which is expected to heighten conflict between the Muslim Brotherhood and the interim authorities that have cracked down on Islamists since Morsi's ouster.
Hundreds of Islamists have been rounded up, and most of the Muslim Brotherhood's senior leaders are now behind bars.
The Islamist alliance has warned the interim authorities against broadcasting Morsi's trial on TV, saying "they [the interim authorities] know what the resistant president Morsi would do to them."
The coalition has reiterated calls for a mass demonstration outside Cairo's Tora police institute where the trial will be held, ignoring warnings by Egypt's interior ministry to firmly confront any "assaults on people or property in accordance with all legal measures regulating the use of firearms."
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/85483.aspx
Egypt's Morsi to be tried at Police Academy
Ahram Online , Sunday 3 Nov 2013
A Cairo court said Sunday that Morsi's trial will be held at the same venue in which Hosni Mubarak was trialed
The trial of Egypt’s deposed president Mohamed Morsi will be held at the Police Academy, on the outskirts of Cairo, an appellate court said on Sunday.
Morsi, who was ousted on 3 July after massive protests against his rule, is due to appear in court on Monday, alongside 14 other senior Islamists and Muslim Brotherhood figures on charges of inciting violence.
If found guilty, Morsi and his co-defendants could face lifetime imprisonment or the death penalty.
His trial is to be held at the same venue in which former president Hosni Mubarak, alongside members of his administration, were tried following the 2011 uprising that deposed him.
Earlier media reports said the hearing would be held in a courtroom at a police institute near Cairo's Tora prison.
Morsi is charged with incitement of murder and violence in the December 2012 Ittihadiya presidential palace clashes. At least eight died in the Ittihadiya clashes, which broke out after pro-Morsi protesters attacked a sit-in held by his opponents.
The National Alliance to Support Legitimacy, a coalition backing deposed president Mohamed Morsi, reiterated on Sunday their call for supporters to rally at the court on Monday. The statement also warned against airing the trial live on TV.
An Interior Ministry official said that the ousted president will be flown to the trial by helicopter.
Heavy security is expected nationwide on Monday. Some 20,000 police officers and soldiers will guard the upcoming trial.
Pro-Morsi groups have staged regular demonstrations since Morsi's popularly-backed ouster in July. Clashes have frequently broken out between protesters, security, and opponents.
University campuses have also witnessed daily demonstrations lately, some of which have escalated into violent conflict. On Wednesday, police stormed Cairo's Al-Azhar University to disperse student protests after clashes erupted with staff members.
In August, police forcibly dispersed two pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo, leaving hundreds dead. Since then, dozens of leading Muslim Brotherhood figures have been arrested, facing charges including incitement of violence.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/85506.aspx
Protest calls, tight security planned for Egypt's Morsi trial
Ahram Online, Sunday 3 Nov 2013
While a number of Morsi allies have called for mass protests on the day of the former president's trial, strict security has been planned for the day
The anticipated first trial of Egyptian ousted president Mohamed Morsi on Monday has prompted calls for mass protests, along with tight security measures, testing Egypt's ability to move forward with its 'roadmap to democracy.'
Morsi, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood, along with 14 other group members, are due in court Monday on charges of incitement to murder and violence in the December 2012 Ittihadiya presidential palace clashes, which pitched Morsi opponents against his supporters. The trial will be held at the Police Academy, on the outskirts of Cairo, in the same venue that staged the trial of Morsi's predecessor Hosni Mubarak.
If found guilty, Morsi and his co-defendants could face lifetime imprisonment or the death penalty.
Tensions are running high across Egypt on the eve of Morsi's trial, which is expected to heighten conflict between the Muslim Brotherhood and the interim authorities, who have cracked down on Islamists since Morsi's ouster on 3 July.
Judicial sources told Ahram Online that some journalists and civil rights lawyers will not be admitted to the courtroom. Those allowed to witness the trial will not be allowed to take their cell phones, cameras or recording devices inside. The trial will also not be televised.
Morsi supporters called for mass protests in the week leading up to the trial, as well as rallies on the day in front of the Police Academy.
The Muslim Brotherhood described the trial as an attempt by the current regime to put Morsi "behind bars, and fill Egypt with corruption, looting and authoritarianism."
The National Alliance to Support Legitimacy (NASL), a pro-Morsi coalition backed by the Muslim Brotherhood, described the trial as a "farce" on Sunday, decrying what they call "illegal" measures against the country's first freely elected president.
"The farcical, absurd trial the coup organisers are holding next Monday is nothing but a naive attempt to break our will and drain that of the resistant president," the Alliance announced in a Facebook Statement.
Morsi supporters accuse the army of staging a 'coup' against the elected president and reversing the democratic gains of the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time autocrat Mubarak.
The military says it was merely responding to the peoples' will after millions took to the streets to protest Morsi's one-year divisive rule.
"What is happening now is a flagrant breach of all standards, laws and norms," the NASL statement continued. It also lambasted the "disgraceful performance of the judiciary, which has become a tool in the hands of the military... used in a political conflict to crush rights and laws."
The NASL statement called on "all Egyptians" to protest Morsi's trial, stressing that demonstrations will remain peaceful and "stronger than the [police] bullets."
Heavy security is expected nationwide on Monday. Some 20,000 police officers and soldiers will guard the trial.
'Normal day'
The Egyptian Cabinet announced Sunday that Monday will be a normal working day in all governmental institutions, schools and universities.
Egypt's Education Minister, Mahmoud Abu-Nasr, said state-owned schools won't be suspended. However, some international and private schools and universities have decided to suspend classes fearing escalation Monday.
Cabinet Spokesman Sherif Shawki told MENA that any attempt to sabotage or obstruct governmental institutions will be firmly dealt with, within the boundaries of the law.
Egypt's railway authority announced a state of emergency on Friday in anticipation of escalating Muslim Brotherhood protests ahead ofthe trial.
Railways operations only recently resumed after an almost two month suspension since the violent dispersal of pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo's Rabaa Al-Adawiya and Giza's Nahda Square on 14 August, which left hundreds dead and thousands injured.
Railway authority head Hussein Zakaria stated that a special task force has been formed to combat protests and violence inside railway stations.Security has also been increased on trains and in stations. However, train schedules will remain as normal, Zakaria added.
The Ministry of Interior said, in a statement published on its official Facebook page on Saturday, it will stand against any assaults, abiding by "legal procedures regulating the use of firearms."
The Brotherhood has plans that aim to "spread chaos, obstruct state facilities and citizens' interests and hold up traffic," the ministry statement alleged.
The statement added that the ministry is "accurately monitoring" the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood, especially its call for mass protests on Monday.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/85528.aspx
Pro-Morsi alliance reiterates call for Morsi trial rally
Ahram Online , Sunday 3 Nov 2013
Trial protests will be peaceful and 'stronger than police bullets,' National Alliance to Support Legitimacy announces on Sunday
The National Alliance to Support Legitimacy, a coalition backing deposed president Mohamed Morsi, reiterated on Sunday its call to supporters to rally at the police institute where Morsi is due in court Monday.
The official statement called once again for "all Egyptians" to protest against Morsi's trial, due to be held in south Cairo's Tora.
The statement also warned against airing the trial live on TV.
It is not yet clear whether or not the 62-year-old Morsi will appear in court. However, an interior ministry official said that the ousted president will be flown to the Monday trial by helicopter.
Morsi is charged with incitement of murder and violence in the December 2012 Ittihadiya presidential palace clashes, which pitched Morsi opponents against his supporters. Fourteen others, including leading members of the Muslim Brotherhood group from which Morsi hails, are also on trial in the case.
Heavy security is expected nationwide on Monday. Some 20,000 police officers and soldiers will guard the upcoming trial.
Meanwhile, the interior ministry has warned against any attempts to attack public institutions or security forces during the widespread protests predicted for Monday.
In its Sunday statement, the Alliance assured that protests will remain peaceful and "stronger than the [police] bullets."
Pro-Morsi groups have staged regular demonstrations since Morsi's popularly-backed ouster in July. The protests have largely remained peaceful. However, scuffles frequently break out between protesters, security, and local opponents.
University campuses have also witnessed daily demonstrations as of late, some of which have escalated into violent conflict. On Wednesday, police stormed Cairo's Al-Azhar University campus to disperse student protests after clashes erupted with staff members.
In August, police forcibly dispersed two pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo, leaving hundreds dead. Since then, dozens of leading Muslim Brotherhood figures have been arrested, facing charges including incitement of violence.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/85470.aspx
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