Pro-Morsi alliance calls for week of protests marking Rabea anniversary

The National Alliance to Support Legitimacy has called for a week of protests to commemorate the six-month anniversary of the violent dispersal of the Rabea al-Adaweya and Nahda Square protest camps that left hundreds dead on August 14.

The protests come in the midst of the ongoing crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood members, hundreds of whom are currently detained and facing trial across the country.

On Thursday, the Cairo Criminal Court adjourned the trial of Brotherhood leaders facing charges pertaining to violent clashes in front of the group’s headquarters until March 16.

Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, his deputies Khairat al-Shater and Mohamed Bayoumi, former MP Saad al-Katatny, former Supreme Guide Mohamed Akef and other high-profile leaders are implicated in the case.

They are accused of killing protesters in front of the Moqattam-based Guidance Office on June 30, when nationwide protests kicked off demanding the resignation of then-President Mohamed Morsi.

Masked assailants inside the offices allegedly shot live ammunition at protesters who were reportedly attempting to burn the building.

Ten protesters were killed and dozens more injured in the violence. The headquarters were later destroyed.

The father-in-law of Morsi’s son was sentenced to 15 days detention on Thursday in the northern city of Zagazig, the ousted president’s hometown, reported the state-owned Middle East News Agency (MENA).

He and 14 others are being investigated for allegations of inciting violence against the police and Armed Forces, adopting the ideas of the banned Muslim Brotherhood organization and protesting without permission in violation of the Protest Law, said MENA.

National Security said books and flyers published by the Islamist group were found with the defendants at the time of their arrest.