Prosecutor blames Muslim Brotherhood for Dostour journalist’s death

Investigations by the general prosecutor placed the blame on the Muslim Brotherhood for the death of Mayada Ashraf, a journalist who was killed in clashes between police forces and the Muslim Brotherhood last year.

The 23-year-old journalist with privately owned Al-Dostour newspaper was among five killed in Friday protests on March 28, 2014, along with Mary Sameh George, 26, and 14-year-old Sherif Abdel Raouf Sherif.

Forensics official Hesham Abdel Hamid said at the time that Ashraf and Sherif were killed with bullets to the head and George was killed by a bullet to the chest.

According to the findings of the prosecutor’s investigation, published by MENA, 48 defendants are implicated in Ashraf’s death, most of whom have allegedly confessed to being part of “armed groups” formed by the Muslim Brotherhood that were aimed at attacking police forces and preventing their attempts to disperse protests.

The defendants also confessed to taking part in the Rabea al-Adaweya sit-in, some of them being supporters of Salafi preacher Hazem Abu Ismail.

Investigations allegedly showed that the defendants had collected funds to buy firearms and birdshot to use against police forces and citizens.

The general prosecutor had referred the 48 defendants to Cairo Criminal Court, with 35 being held in detention pending trial. He ordered the arrest of the remaining 13.

The charges leveled against them include joining a terrorist organization, possession of weapons, manslaughter and attempted murder and vandalism.  

At least six journalists died as they covered clashes between police and Brotherhood supporters last year, according to the international Committee to Protect Journalists, with at least 12 fatalities since the 2011 uprising.

Ashraf’s death sparked protests by journalists at the syndicate, who demanded greater protection for field reporters. The syndicate then announced that it would provide bulletproof jackets to field reporters and force newspapers to provide life insurance.

Then Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim also offered a solution, suggesting that journalists covering conflict zones stand behind police forces for protection.