(AFP PHOTO / TAREK EL-GABASS)
Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Al-Beltagy and Islamist figure Safwat Hegazy’s request to change judges in their trial was refused on Tuesday.
The two stand accused of torturing two policemen and directing the the Rabaa Al-Adaweya sit-in in support of former president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
Khaled Badawy, one of six lawyers handling the case, cited the judges’ lack of objectivity as the reason behind Hegazy and Al-Beltagy’s request for the change. Badawy said the judges currently involved in the case referred to the 30 July as “popular revolution” above the constitution and the law. He added that the judges do not consider this a coup, which contradicts the beliefs of the defendants.
The court, however, has refused the request filed by Al-Beltagy and Hegazy, as outlined by the law, Al-Beltagy was fined EGP 3,000.
Badawy added that he hoped the retaining of the judges would not affect the outcome of the trial.
He noted that Al-Beltagy and Hegazy are also accused of managing the Rabaa Al-Adaweya sit-in and torturing the two policemen which has been contradicted by witnesses.
According to state-run news outlet MENA, the prosecution’s investigation has found evidence that the defendants captured the two policemen and physically attacked them.
Last December, Judge Hisham Saraya handling the case excused himself from the case, citing “distress”.
