Egyptian court tries hundreds of supporters of former President Morsi

According to a VNA correspondent in Cairo, on December 13, Egyptian prosecutors summoned nearly 440 people suspected of involvement in bloody violence in response to the crackdown on protesters supporting ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in August 2013.

Thousands of Muslims protested at Rabea Al-Adawiya Square, demanding the release and reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Morsi. (Photo: Hoang Chien/VNA)

In the first trial, nearly 140 alleged Muslim Brotherhood (MB) supporters were summoned to a military court for their involvement in the murder of three police officers and the raid and arson of a police station in the southern province of Minya.

Meanwhile, the Damanhour Public Prosecutor's Office also issued a summons to more than 300 defendants to a military court on charges of burning down the Beheira provincial government building and killing five people during clashes between protesters supporting former President Morsi and security forces.

The incident occurred on August 14, 2013, just one day after more than 700 people were killed in clashes when security forces suppressed two pro-Morsi protests in the capital Cairo.

The summoning of the above subjects to the military court is based on a decision approved by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi last October.

On October 27, President al-Sisi issued a new law that gives the military prosecutor the power to prosecute crimes against public institutions and the “vital interests” of the state. The law was passed shortly after at least 33 security personnel were killed in military attacks in the Sinai Peninsula on October 24.

Previously, on November 16, the Cairo Criminal Court also issued a summons for five students of al-Azhar University to appear before a military court on charges of burning down the university's administration room.

Since the overthrow of former President Mohamed Morsi on July 3 last year, the Egyptian government has intensified its crackdown on Brotherhood supporters. At least 1,400 people have been killed in street clashes with security forces.

In addition, about 15,000 people were arrested, hundreds of whom were sentenced to death./.

According to VNA