The Cairo Criminal Court postponed to 10 November the court session for the retrial of the “Air Defence Stadium” case, in which 16 Ultras White Knights (UWK), Al-Zamalek SC fans, are accused of violence and rioting. Two of the defendants in the case, Mostafa Abdel Maged and Hesham Fathy, were ordered to be arrested by the court.
The session was postponed in order to implement a request filed by the defence team, in which they requested a copy of the prosecution’s investigations.
In February, the North Cairo Criminal Court ordered a re-investigation into the violent events that occurred outside the Air Defence Stadium last year and commissioned Judge Wagdy Abdel Moneim to supervise investigations.
Among the defendants in this case is Sayed Moshagheb, who is serving a one-year prison sentence on charges of storming into Al-Zamalek SC’s club.
Moshagheb, a prominent UWK member, previously went on a hunger strike to protest his mistreatment in the notorious Al-Aqrab prison.
On 8 February 2015, a premier league football match between Al-Zamalek SC and ENPPI’s team took a violent turn as fans were attempting to enter the Air Defence Stadium. Many fans were killed when security forces violently dispersed the crowds at the entrance to the stadium.
During these clashes, at least 22 fans were killed in violence between security forces and Al-Zamalek SC supporters. The Air Defence Stadium deaths led to an uproar from different political parties, coalitions, opposition groups, and institutions. All parties mourned the dead and expressed their condolences to the victims’ families.
