The Cairo Criminal Court has postponed the “Maspero violence case” to 19 September, according to state-run news agency MENA.
The case involves 23 defendants, 17 of whom are in prison, with the remaining defendants still at large. The prosecution accused the defendants on several charges, including illegal assembly, attempted murder, and attacking public and private facilities.
The incident took place in the events following the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013. Clashes between security personnel and Morsi supporters took place as they gathered around the Maspero (television) building, calling for his return and for “legitimacy”.
Morsi’s ouster came after mass protests took to the streets on 30 June 2013, calling for his removal from the presidency. The events that followed Morsi’s ouster involved several clashes and encounters between Muslim Brotherhood supporters and security personnel.
On 14 August 2013, the armed forces violently dispersed sit-ins in Rabaa Al-Adaweya and Al-Nahda Square, which left more than 1,000 dead, according to Human Rights Watch.
Egypt’s 30 June Fact Finding Committee, however, stated that only 607 were killed during the dispersal. A nationwide crackdown was launched by the government on Muslim Brotherhood leaders, supporters and affiliates. In December 2013, the Muslim Brotherhood was designated a “terrorist organisation”.
