Qasr Al-Nil Misdemeanour Court acquitted on Wednesday 22 detainees who were arrested on 15 April during the “Friday of the land” protests.
The detainees were accused of protesting without a permit, hindering public transportation, blocking roads, and threatening state security.
The “Friday of the land” protests were the first set of demonstrations to take place against the maritime demarcation agreement that was supposed to transfer sovereignty of Tiran and Sanafir islands to Saudi Arabia. The State Council Administrative Court ruled on Tuesday to cancel the agreement.
Demonstrations also took place on 25 April, which were met with a severe security crackdown and widespread arrests.
The defendants were previous released on 4 May pending a court session to view photographs and testimonies from Cairo Metro and transportation authorities.
On 15 April, police forces arrested and fired tear gas on anti-government protesters in Alexandria and Giza, dispersing protesters demonstrating in Giza’s Moustafa Mahmoud Square. A crowd also gathered in front of the Press Syndicate in downtown Cairo to protest the Egyptian-Saudi agreement.
The controversial agreement between Egypt and Saudi Arabia was made in April during a visit by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. It sparked widespread discontent among both pro- and anti-government factions in the country, leading to a number of arrests.
