Islamist leaders’ trial to start December 9

The Cairo Appeal Court has set December 9 as a start date for the trial of 15 prominent Islamist leaders.

The defendants include Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, Brotherhood leaders Mohamed al-Beltagy and Essam al-Erian, Jama’a al-Islamiya leader Assem Abdel Majid, Islamist preacher Safwat Hegazy, former Minister of Supply Bassem Ouda. They are suspected of involvement in the violence that occurred in Giza Square in July.

The charges include illegal gathering, attacking security forces, and inciting murder, Al-Ahram Gate reported.

On July 22, clashes erupted in Giza Square between Giza residents and supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, who had been staging a sit-in around Cairo University and Nahda Square. The clashes started after Morsi supporters marched to nearby Giza Square from the sit-in. Nine people died and and dozens were injured.

Since Morsi's ouster on July 3 there has been a sweeping crackdown on Brotherhood leaders for their alleged involvement in various incidents of violence as well as other charges.

The court also set December 10 as the start date for the trial of Mahdi Akef, another former Brotherhood leader, on charges of insulting the judiciary.

Meanwhile, Alexandria Prosecutions decided on Sunday morning to extend the imprisonment of Brotherhood leader Sobhi Saleh, former Deputy Governor of Alexandria Hassan al-Brens, and 175 other members of the Brotherhood in Alexandria for 15 days pending investigation, the state-owned Egynews website reported.

They are suspected of several crimes, including forming a terrorist organization, illegal and unconstitutional acts, attacking public facilities, incitement to murder, attempted murder, threatening the public peace, and the targeting the Armed Forces and police.