The North Cairo Criminal Court adjourned Saturday the trial session of over 200 defendants facing illegal protesting charges during the third commemoration of the 25 January revolution in 2013.
The trial has been postponed to 7 December, and the defendants were released on bail pending trial.
Nearly 228 activists are facing charges of using violence leading to the killing of five people, possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives. According to Freedom to the Brave group supporting political detainees, all defendants have been released over a period of three months with bails ranging from EGP 1,000 to EGP 10,000.
Prior to Saturday’s session, the court held the last session in April. Defence lawyer Sameh Samir from the Egyptian Front to Defend Protesters stated that the prosecution’s decision to refer the case to trial was “surprising” because the defendants had been released and there were expectations that the case would be closed.
Prominent 6 April Youth Movement activist Sayed Wezza was killed in clashes between protesters and security forces near the Press Syndicate. According to 6 April statements on the incidents, four others were killed: Attallah Shaaban, Omar Awad, Mahmoud Yassin and Mahmoud Metwaly.
The 6 April Youth Movement accused the Ministry of Interior’s security forces of shooting them, amid a constant “targeting of 25 January revolutionaries to silence its opposition”. The group had confirmed that Abdullah died from a fatal gunshot wound in the chest on Sherif Street in Downtown Cairo during clashes between protesters and security forces in 25 January 2015.
For its part, the Ministry of Interior had denied opening fire against protesters. According to official counts, 49 died and 1,079 were arrested on that day, as outraged activists received their bodies at the Zeinhom Morgue.
