By Heba Fahmy
CAIRO: The Suez Criminal Court released on bail 14 defendants charged with the murder and attempted murder of peaceful protesters, causing outrage on Monday among Suez residents who demanded justice for the martyrs.
Bail was set at LE 10,000 for each defendant, including 10 police officers, and the case was adjourned to September 14.
Activists said the police stepped up security in Suez in preparation for mass protests following the court’s decision. By mid-day there were unconfirmed reports that clashes had escalated as residents threw stones and set cars on fire outside the governorate office.
“The road leading to the governorate building was blocked by security forces,” Talaat Khalil, a Ghad party leader, told Daily News Egypt earlier on Monday.
Ahmed Abdel Gawad, a senior member of Al-Ghad Party, confirmed, saying that protesters were expected to head to the governorate headquarters later in the afternoon to condemn the court order and call for justice.
He added that they might hold an open sit-in at the governorate until their demands are met.
Ahmed El-Kilany, the lawyer representing protesters’ families, told DNE that while the decision is ultimately up to the court’s judgment “choosing to release these defendants at this timing will ignite the situation and increase the frustration of Suez residents against police forces.”
He added that the court order is an indication that the defendants may eventually be found innocent.
The accused include the head of the Suez Security Directorate, according to El-Kilany.
He said that clashes broke out between the families of the martyrs and police forces outside the courthouse in New Cairo.
The trial is held in Cairo instead of Suez for security reasons.
Suez witnessed the most intense clashes when the January 25 Revolution broke out as protesters demanded civil rights and an end to the Hosni Mubarak regime.
Official reports say that 29 were killed in Suez during the uprising, while over 1,000 were injured.
