CAIRO: The trial of some 22 detainees currently in custody on accusations of belonging to a Hezbollah-led cell may begin next week, according to Abdel-Moneim Abdel-Maqsoud, a lawyer for some of the defendants.
Investigations in the case have concluded and the trial will commence once Prosecutor General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud announces the list of charges to be brought against the detainees, the lawyer told Daily News Egypt on Monday
Investigations were carried out by the Ministry of Interior’s State Security branch.
Forty-nine people, 22 of whom are in custody, are being charged with operating a cell in Egypt which was taking orders from Hezbollah.
Some predicted that the detainees would be tried in a military tribunal, but according to Abdel-Maqsoud, the case will be heard in one of the State Security Emergency Courts.
Torture allegations surfaced as the detainees spent more than five months in State Security custody. One detainee, Adel Ghareez, alleged that he was tortured, which led to State Security Prosecutor Hisham Badawy order to have all the detainees examined by a forensic team.
“The forensic team determined that there was no evidence that any of the detainees were tortured, Abdel-Maqsoud said.
The case has stirred aggravation and a war of words between Hezbollah and the Egyptian government, which has taken affront at the perceived temerity of the Lebanese Shia group. The state press followed suit, constantly attacking the group and its leader Hassan Nasrallah.
For its part, Hezbollah – and its leader – seem unrepentant about the whole affair, stating that it was a legitimate form of assistance to the Palestinian resistance in Gaza.
The political aspect of the case has the defendants’ lawyers concerned over the impact it may have once the trial begins.
Islamist lawyer Montasser Al-Zayat, who is representing the majority of the defendants, recently announced his concern that the anger of President Hosni Mubarak regarding this case would have an adverse effect on proceedings.
Speaking to Daily News Egypt from Doha, Qatar, two weeks ago, Al-Zayat said that he was worried that this presidential wrath, expressed in a speech the president gave to commemorate Labor Day, would have a negative impact on the fate of the accused.
“I’m afraid of the presidential anger, Al-Zayat said, “it might veer the case to a military tribunal, and it might also formulate pressure on the nature of the investigations. The lack of an announcement as to when the trial will take place is what is worrying.
Al-Zayat also admitted that the cell was operating on Egyptian territory under orders from Hezbollah, but stated that all operations were geared towards aiding Gaza, and other accusations of planning operations in Egypt were patently untrue.
“The truth of the matter is that they were here to help the Palestinian cause, anything besides that is untrue. We will do our duty and see what happens, he said.
