Court sets June 30 for verdict in 'Rabaa sit-in' case

CAIRO – 29 May 2018: Cairo Criminal Court on Tuesday set June 30 to issue its verdict trial of Muslim Brotherhood (MB) guide Mohamed Badie and 739 others in the case known as “Rabaa sit-in Dispersal.”

The defendants are charged with staging an armed gathering in Rabaa square, illegally possessing and handling weapons, blocking driveways, deliberately vandalizing public property, along with other counts related to murdering policemen and citizens.

Amongst the defendants awaiting Saturday’s trial are members of the top guidance bureau Essam el-Erian, Safwat Hegazy, Mohamed el Beltagy, Usama Yassin, and former president Mohamed Morsi, Essam Maged, Abdel Rahman al-Barr, Safwat Hegazy, Mohamed el-Beltagy, Usama Yassin, Issam Sultan, Basem Odeh, Wagdy Ghoneim and photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zaid (Shawkan) who was on assignment for Demotix.

Must-know facts about "Rabaa" case

CAIRO - 26 May 2018: Cairo Criminal Court, chaired by Counselor Hassan Farid, has been reviewing one of the most important terrorist cases, known as the "Rabaa sit-in dispersal;" Muslim Brotherhood Guide Mohamed Badie and 738 other defendants are accused.

Three defendants were released due to deteriorating health condition. However, all the imprisoned defendants were sentenced to one year in prison for insulting the court on February 25, 2017. Later on, the court overturned the sentence and annulled the one-year imprisonment decision.

On August 14, 2013, Security Forces set out to disperse the Muslim Brotherhood sit-in in Nasr City’s Rabaa al-Adawiya, along with another sit-in located in Nahda Square, Giza.

The Rabaa al-Adawiya sit-in was primarily forged by former Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated President Mohamed Morsi supporters and sympathizers in support of his legitimacy.

Damage to the surrounding area as a result of the dispersal amounted to LE 50 million ($2.8 million).