Egyptian judge cuts short mass trial over disruptive lawyers

A mass trial of members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood began in Egypt on Saturday, but proceedings were abruptly cut short by the judge who said defence lawyers were being disruptive and “discussing politics”, a judicial source said.

Judge Saeed Youssef Mohamed would announce his ruling on Monday and requested the lawyers of the 545 defendants to submit their written defence within 24 hours, the source said, declining to be identified.

The charges against the group, on trial in the province of Southern Minya, include storming a police station, attacking persons and damaging public and private property.

Only 123 of the defendants were present, the rest being either released, out on bail or on the run. Most were arrested during clashes which erupted in Minya after the forced dispersal of two Muslim Brotherhood protest camps in Cairo on August 14.

Tarek Fouda, head of the lawyer’s syndicate in Minya said that the presiding judge had “veered away from all legal norms and that he breached the rights of the defence”.

Fouda said he would submit a report on what had occurred at Saturday’s hearing to Egypt’s Justice Minister.

Hundreds died when security forces cleared the Cairo camps, where protesters had been calling for the reinstatement of former President Mohammed Mursi, ousted by the army in July. The events sparked violent protests all over Egypt.

Shortly after the army takeover, the authorities labelled the Muslim Brotherhood a “terrorist” organisation and thousands of its members have since been arrested.

Their trials have become an almost daily occurrence in Egypt, in groups of varying sizes. Mass trials are unusual, although this is the first of two scheduled in one week.

Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie, in just one of several cases against him, will stand trial with 682 others on Tuesday, accused of incitement to kill.

The army, prompted by mass protests, overthrew Mursi after only one year in office. Army chief, Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Al Sisi announced a political roadmap that should lead to democratic transition.

Sisi is widely expected to run and win presidential elections that are due to take place this year.