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EGYPT’S DEPOSED ISLAMIST president Mohamed Morsi has been brought to a courthouse to face trial over protester deaths, raising fears of renewed violence four months after he was toppled by the army.
Morsi’s supporters, battered by a bloody and sweeping police crackdown, accuse the army-installed government of fabricating the charges against him and have called for protests against the military.
Morsi was flown in by helicopter to the police academy in the Egyptian capital where the trial is being convened, and 14 co-defendants were also present, said Cairo security chief Osama al-Soghayar.
“His helicopter landed… The others were driven to the court during curfew hours,” another security official said.
Morsi, who the army has held at a secret location since his 3 July ousting, is accused along with the other 14 of inciting the murder of protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012.
The charges against Morsi could lead to the death penalty or life in prison.
Alert
Egypt is on high alert for the trial, with 20,000 policemen to be deployed and authorities saying they are ready to deal with any outbreak of violence.
With more than 1,000 people killed since Morsi’s overthrow and thousands of Islamists arrested, hopes for a political settlement between the Islamists and interim government are slim.
“Morsi’s presence in the court will definitely energise his supporters and raise possibilities of new protests and clashes,” said Shadi Hamid, an analyst at the Brookings Doha Center.
The trial will be seen as a test for Egypt’s new authorities, who have come under fire from rights groups for their heavy-handed approach in dealing with dissent.
“They should present Mohamed Morsi in court and grant him a fair trial, including the right to challenge the evidence against him in court,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui of human rights watchdog Amnesty International.
“Failing to do so would further call into question the motives behind his trial.”
A riot policeman stands guard behind barbed wire outside the police academy compound [Image: Manu Brabo/AP/Press Association Images]
Analysts believe the political nature of the trial will drive its outcome.
“This is first and foremost a political trial and an important one. There is zero chance of it being free and fair,” said Hamid.
“The trial is a clear reminder of a polarised Egyptian society at this moment of time.”
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Dirty savage, 8 years not enough!
I ask this as a serious question. Would the general public agree with chemical castration for men who do something like this?
I would Creamy! Your name in certain circumstances is a bit…well
You need to watch more family guy joan…although that might only confirm your suspicion..
Totally disagree with the chemicals. Knife much better and I am serious.
How could she have been a teenager for 9 years?
I would vote YES!
Rape is about violence ! Not just self-gratafacation ? I think boiled slowly in hot oil might surffice?
8 years for raping a child. Sometimes the law just seems so inadequate
Horrible excuse for a man . Dirty rapist 8 years is not enough.
No punishment is great enough for ruining a innocent life .
Agreed, but I could think of a few that I’d like to try out.
8 years!
Should be at least double that for each person he brutalised.
But at least he is serving a life sentence in daily life when he gets out.
His life will be an absolute misery! Probably worse than being inside!
I wonder what goes through the minds of judges when they pass light sentences of eight years for such a monstrous act , when the prosecutors asked for 10 to 12 years? Is it misplaced compassion or are they completely out of touch. Child rapists should be given a life sentence. I’d have no problem with castration either.
Ll fine calling for life for rape , but think about this- why would a rapist leave his victim alive to bear witness against him when he would get a lesser sentence if he kills her.
By giving severe sentences for rape increases the potential for MURDER, think about that if ur sister or daughter does not come on time.
Sorry come home on time.
Pedophiles, rapists and child molesters or any kind should be locked up for life, and have there basic human rights taken away because they aren’t human, they should be given, basic food and little to no time out side there cells !!
How about we place a rat on their tummy and seal with a metal helmet ! How do u think the rat will find it’s way out????
He should get a bullet. Simple as that.
i think we’ve become too politically correct.there is 7billion people on this planet and money is tight,so bugger it just put him down(with a cheap medicine)along with others who do this type of thing.REALLY why can’t they just do it?
the above comment from robert smith was actually posted by me gavan smith.we use the same computer and it was logged onto robert smith’s facebook page by accident
I have no idea why a certain length sentence is given to people who do this. So if after 8 years, he still has these urges, he has done his time so let him out? People like this should be given a sentence to pay for what they have done but be held for as long as necessary after that time for rehabilitation. If that can’t be achieved then they should choose chemical castration or life in a facility. I thought the whole point of laws, courts and jail was not only to punish people when they have committed a crime but was to keep society safe.
The whole point of punishment to fit the crime is lost on the judicial system and it needs to reflect the times. There is so many reports like this one that surely the whole system needs to be looked at. I’m not for a second suggesting that this is a new crime and it wasn’t being committed in the past but now that there is plenty of research done on this type of offender and their likelihood of reoffending it seems a crime in itself not to devise a sentence that is suitable.
Absolutely Liz. Well said. Interesting article on the subject
Death
I presume the last sentence is a typo?
Perhaps it is worth considering …..by undermining the traditional values/foundations of society…this is what you get…fer pities sake ….you liberals…fer pities sake….whatever next…
Mason change your name. I suggest Manson? You deranged creep!!
…..@ Martstjon…Before pressing submit…best you think about what you are saying …clearly must explain to the uneducated amongst us ….back when yer man were a boy homosexual acts were considered criminal…by making such depravity acceptable the foundations of respectability …of society were weakened…it is sugested this contributed …by degrees to the perverse amongst us thinking “well if homosexualiy is acceptable..all forms of self gratification must be OK” …thus society saw the behaviour of such as the French Tennis coach and the American Football coach take place and continue to this day..when the liberals amongst us condone same gender marriages…the adoption of the young by these people…how long will it be before the act of the pedophile will become acceptable ….along with incest…take it further ….cannibalism…..break the rules expect the unexpected…rules were made in sociey for well founded reasons…break them and the flood gates are opened….you cant have your cake and eat it …..Do you now understand? …..consider, before abusing others….
….it is pointless coming up with all these medieval ways of dealing with people who are socially unacceptable….we have to ask ourselves why people do such….what is happening to respectable behaviour…It be suggested that the Liberal..”progressives” in our midst….by condoning that which in the past was totally unacceptable….suggest to those unable to quell socially unacceptable desires….that self gratification of any form needs no restraint…This may be seen in film/ staged performance/ art /literature/ www sites/ magazines/popular music lyrics….Possibly alright for the minority seen as “we’ll balanced” a totally subjective notion…dependent on who/what/where you are….That said overall…most people are generally uneducated unable to form an opinion if it is against the trend the so called “progressive” mindset…..This fear of being rebuked by fellow man leads us down the avenue of “anything goes” the erosion of standards of civilisation… as the majority would like to see it ….As a teacher of Humanities KS9 to KS12…it is with dismay the notions of young minds are so easily influenced by the popular media….No the answer is not known! other than to discourage rather than encourage that which is felt to be unacceptable….
@mason…typos…homosexuality…well….
@mason …young people…are seen to be so easily influenced…..
…@MartStJohn….an apology for your abuse will be graciously accepted….courtesy costs nothing …perhaps a little loss of face…which does nobody any harm….
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