(AFP File Photo)
Al-Masry football club fans marched in Port Said Friday, protesting 11 death sentences handed to fans of the club in the “Port Said Massacre” trial.
The protest, called for by the club’s hardcore fan group Ultras Green Eagles, toured the streets of Port Said city denouncing the sentences. They also called for the imprisoned fans’ freedom, chanting against the Ministry of Interior and Al-Ahly club.
The Port Said massacre case dates back to February 2012, when, during a match between rival teams Al-Masry and Al-Ahly, home team fans stormed the pitch attacking the away team fans. With the police not intervening, 74 Al-Ahly fans were killed.
The Port Said Criminal Court sentenced 11 defendants to death on 19 April, whilst postponing the case’s final verdict to a 30 May session.
With the defendants accused of several crimes, including premeditated murder and possession of explosives and weapons, the court referred the defendants’ files to the Grand Mufti, a routine procedure before ratifying a death sentence, and proposed the next session for the defendants’ final verdict.
Protesters claimed the sentenced-to-death fans are scapegoats, and accused the state of patronising the Cairo club Al-Ahly.
