Maadi protesters’ appeal accepted, found not guilty

Twelve protesters arrested in Maadi on the third anniversary of January 25 were found not guilty by the Maadi Misdemeanors Court Saturday, according to lawyer Mahmoud Belal.

The court had accepted the appeal raised against the two-year sentences handed down to the protesters last March.

The 12 protesters were among a group of 20 arrested on January 25 in Maadi as they staged protests commemorating the uprising’s third anniversary.

Three other protesters were tried in absentia and given a fine of between LE50,000 and LE100,000 last month.

The remaining five were also found not guilty last month, four of whom were minors, Belal said.

The protesters included prominent liberal activist Nazly Hussein who has been heavily involved in efforts to help political detainees since 2011.

Hussein was released two days after her arrest.

A total of 1,079 people were arrested nationwide during the anniversary’s protests, according to the Interior Ministry.

State media had reported that the protesters were arrested on Saturday when they started allegedly started shooting at the Maadi metro station and attempted to stage protests inside.

However, eyewitness accounts suggest that the group was ambushed by both uniformed and plain-clothed police forces.