Protestors’ lawyers in Afroto’s case say arrest procedures void

CAIRO – 15 November 2018: The lawyers of the dozens of defendants arrested after organizing protests in 2017 following the death of an Egyptian youth inside a police station said that procedures taken to arrest the defendants were void.

The lawyers argued that the procedures taken, including searching and seizing the defendants, were void due to the lack of investigation before issuing an arrest order against the defendants.

The lawyers also called for nullifying the charges against the defendants, as they have been generally facing the same charges. They also complained that the security forces' scenario of how the incidents took place was illogical, adding that the seized objects do not belong to the defendants.

Dozens of people demonstrated in January 2017 in front of Al-Mokattam police station after Mohamed Abdel Hakim (aka Afroto) was beaten to death by two policemen including an officer. A total of 102 demonstrators were subsequently arrested and accused by court of damaging public and private property in violent demonstrations against the police.

The defendants face charges of attacking the police station and the Mokattam Specialized Hospital. They are also accused of damaging public and private property, and taking part in illegal demonstrations. Nine policemen were reportedly injured during the attacks.

Criminal Court convicts defendants in ‘Afroto Case’

CAIRO - 11 November 2018: Cairo Criminal Court sentenced a police officer and a policeman to three years, and six months in prison respectively for murder by mistake in the lawsuit publicly known as “Afroto Case.”