The Week in Quotes: The Muslim Brotherhood Trials

 This week, Egypt Today’s “Week in Quotes” transforms into an update on what is happening in the Muslim Brotherhood trials 

 By  Ahmed Mansour and Kaylan Geiger

The trial of Hosni Mubarak, once referred to as the ‘Trial of the Century’, came to a close on November 29 as the court decided that the former president was not guilty of ordering the killing of protesters during the 2011 Revolution. Some reacted to the news with support and some with condemnation. But as attention turned to the acquittal of Mubarak and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, the trial of Muslim Brotherhood leaders and former President Mohamed Morsi was swept further under the rug. With all the focus on Mubarak this past week, Egypt Today’s “Week in Quotes” decides to provide key updates on the trials of Muslim Brotherhood leaders and members as well as former President Morsi. This week’s Developments of the MB trials:

• Mohamed Morsi’s espionage trial has been postponed to Sunday, December 14. Morsi’s defense said in an official statement that they do have proof denying the fact that Morsi, or the Muslim Brotherhood, ever collaborated with the United States for personal gain, personal assurance or any deals that would harm the welfare of Egypt.
• On December 6, Ahmed Tharwat, the son-in-law of MB deputy Supreme Guide Khairat Al-Shater, was arrested and sent to prison for 15 days pending investigations. He is accused by the court of “joining a terrorist organization, formed in violation to the provisions of the constitution and law,” state-run MENA reported.
• Seven Muslim Brotherhood members were sentenced to life in prison in absentia by the Rahmaneya Criminal Court in Behira Governorate on charges of “being members of a terrorist organization and inciting violence.”
• The Cairo Criminal Court sentenced four unnamed defendants, out of 18, to death on charges of killing protesters, premeditated murder and the illegal possession of fire arms, among other crimes. Their sentences have been sent to the Grand Mufti for approval.

  “I do believe that the propaganda the media is making regarding Mubarak’s verdict is to take our minds off the recent developments in Morsi’s trail. There has been many sayings regarding the matter, but I do also believe that there are a lot of details in the MB trials, that the government doesn’t want the people to know.” — Mohamed Raoof, political activist, to Egypt Today. “The court is giving away death sentences to the members of the MB, like they are giving away candy. I do not believe that the court has this much evidence to prosecute all of those people. The judicial system needs to address this case wisely, because I do believe that they are basing all their verdicts on the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood is declared a terrorist organization, so by default, any member of the organization is a terrorist, so the death penalty is a suitable punishment.” — Mohamed Khalik Khaleefa, lawyer, to Egypt Today. “I have never seen the court so active regarding a case before, and I think that they are taking advantage of the spotlight being on Mubarak. There has been much advancement recently in the MB cases that the media should cover and stress on.” — Sameera Mohamed, political activist and member of the constitution party, to Egypt Today.   Milestones Won, Al-Ahly football club its 20^th victory in the CAF Confederation Cup final on December 6. Discovered, the sarcophagus of god Amun’s singer in an area near Luxor on December 8. Relocated, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies outside of Egypt. The institute says that ongoing threats to human rights in the country has made it impossible to operate as normal.