Morsi Rejects Authority of Egypt Court Due to Try Him
Egypt's ousted president Mohammed Morsi has rejected the authority of the court that is due to try him next week for incitement to murder, his supporters said Monday.
Morsi, an Islamist hailing from the Muslim Brotherhood who was Egypt's first freely elected leader, was ousted by the military on July 3 amid massive protests against his year-long rule.
He is due to stand trial with 14 others on November 4 for "incitement to murder" in connection with deadly clashes between his supporters and opponents outside the presidential palace in December 2012.
"No lawyers will be defending president Mohammed Morsi, neither Egyptians nor foreigners, because the president does not recognize the trial or any action and processes that result from the coup," the Anti-Coup Alliance, led by the Muslim Brotherhood, said in a statement.
The group said a team of Egyptian lawyers would be attending the trial with Morsi, but only "to observe proceedings, not to defend him."
It said its statement was prompted by false reports in pro-military media outlets saying the Muslim Brotherhood had appointed lawyers from Turkey and Qatar to represent Morsi.
The group called on international human rights activists and lawyers to attend the trial to see firsthand "the trampling of justice."
Source: Agence France Presse
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/103651 |