Activists accuse police of violence during Monday’s court session

The trial of Ahmed Maher, Mohamed Adel and Ahmed Douma, three high-profile activists accused of violating the contentious Protest Law, has been adjourned to April 7, when a final verdict in the case would be issued by the Cairo Misdemeanor Court.

Maher and Adel — both founders of the April 6 Youth Movement — and Douma face charges of assaulting police forces and taking part in riots in front of Abdeen Court on November 30.

The charges stem from clashes that broke out when Maher was attempting to turn himself in to the authorities in another case.

The defendants also face charges of terrorizing citizens, calling for a protest in violation of the law, thuggery and disturbing the peace.

The case is one of several that the public prosecutor has brought against protesters and activists after the approval of the new Protest Law in November. The law prohibits political assembly without approval from the state.

Monday's court session was particularly tense, as the three defendants entered the courtroom screaming to their lawyers to withdraw from the court session.

The activists said that they were beaten by police forces securing their trial.

"The beating marks were obvious on Douma, Maher and Adel. When they told police officer that they will tell the judge about the beating, the officer said: Let the judge benefit you," lawyer Mahmoud Belal told Mada Masr.

When the defense team started to leave the court, the prosecution accused them of attempting to prolong the session, Belal continued.

"[We made fun of this], because it is not in the favor of the defendants to make the court session longer,” the lawyer explained.

The defense team also requested to change the location of the trial, which is currently being held at the Police Conscripts Institute. Lawyers claim it is illegal to hold a court session in the hands of "police thugs," Belal said.

The judge allowed the defendants to briefly talk to their lawyers in a private meeting before the court would make its decision on whether or not to adjourn the session.

The first protest to defy the new law was held outside the Shura Council in late November. No prior approval had been received from authorities. Around 60 protesters were arrested, all but one of whom have since been released.

Activist Alaa Abd El Fatah was also arrested, along with Maher, for calling for the protest. He remains detained, pending investigations.

Prior to the Abdeen Court incident, a warrant for the arrest of Maher was issued on charges that he had violated the Protest Law and assaulted an officer during the late-November Shura Council protest.

As Maher went to turn himself in, clashes erupted between police and a solidarity protest taking place outside the court. Arrest warrants were then issued for Maher, Douma and Adel.