Publishing ban on January 25 prison attacks case

A publishing ban has been placed on the investigation into attacks on prisons and police stations that took place during the first days of the January 25 revolution. Deposed President Mohamed Morsi and more than 30 Muslim Brotherhood leaders have been charged with crimes in relation to the incidents.

Newspapers both in Egypt and abroad are banned from publishing details about the case according to MENA, the state news agency.

Hassan Samir, the judge presiding over the investigation said that the ban had been imposed in order to ensure the smooth running of the investigation, to protect evidence, for national security considerations and in light of current events in Egypt.

Prosecutor General Hesham Barakat was sent the case file by Khaled Mahgoub, head of the Ismailia Appeals Court, after it ruled that the Prosecution General Office must reopen the investigation into the case. Initial investigations found that Hamas members in coordination with Muslim Brotherhood leaders were involved in storming Egyptian prisons and releasing prisoners during the security breakdown of the 2011 revolution.

Morsi and other Brotherhood leaders were being held in the Wadi al-Natrun Prison, north of Cairo, in the period between 27 and 29 January when they were sprung from the jail during an armed attack that killed 28 prisoners and guards.

Blame for the attacks and the prisoner escapes was placed on the police for months following the revolution, but the reopening of this case coincides with reports in the media about charges of grand treason and spying being leveled against the suspects in relation to the incident.