Court orders 45 more days detention for Islamist leaders

The South Giza prosecution added 45 days to the detention of Islamist leaders implicated in deadly clashes in July, the privately owned Al-Watan newspaper reported on Monday.

Brotherhood leader Helmy al-Gazzar, MB lawyer Abdel Moneim Abdel Maqsoud, Wasat Party head Abul Ela Mady and former MP Mohamed al-Omda face charges of killing 23 individuals during clashes in Been al-Sarayat. They also are charged with the attempted murder of 267 others, forming a “gang” to carry out terrorist acts, supporting militant groups with money and arms, terrorizing citizens, thuggery, illegal arms possession, blocking roads, vandalizing state property and belonging to a terrorist group.

The national security apparatus claims to have evidence that the defendants incited violence during the Rabea al-Adaweya and Nahda Square sit-ins following the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi.

The Cairo Criminal Court also extended the detention of Wasat Party deputy head Essam Sultan by 45 more days, reversing an earlier court decision to release Sultan pending investigation.

Sultan is implicated in the so-called “Rabea slaughterhouse case,” and is accused of torturing citizens at the Rabea sit-in camp, said Al-Watan.

These are believed to be the longest detention periods meted out since the Islamist leaders were arrested after Morsi was removed from office.

Also on Thursday, police forces arrested three Muslim Brotherhood members in Beheira on charges of storming the governorate’s headquarters and “inciting protests.”