Archive for Battle of the Camel

Prosecution to reinvestigate Battle of the Camel murders

by admin
December 23rd, 2012

Central Cairo’s prosecution office decided on Sunday to reinvestigate the killing of protesters in the incident widely known as the Battle of the Camel, a judicial source told Al-Masry Al-Youm.

On 2 February 2011, amid the widespread protests of the 18-day uprising against former President Hosni Mubarak, prosecutors say 24 senior officials of the former Mubarak regime sent armed men on horseback and camels to attack anti-government protesters. During the attack, at least 11 protesters were killed and hundreds injured.

But after a trial that lasted over a year, a court acquitted all of the defendants last October.

The judicial source added that the investigations were reopened after prosecutors received new complaints related to the case.

One of the complaints was filed by attorney Mohamed Mowafy, who alleged new evidence implicating Mubarak, his wife Suzanne, former Manpower and Immigration Minister Aisha Abdel Hady, and former head of the state-dominated Egyptian Trade Union Federation, Hussein Megawer.

Abdel Hady and Megawer were among the former officials acquitted in the Battle of the Camel trial.

The move to reinvestigate the case doesn’t automatically mean a new trial will be held. The prosecution will first have to decide whether to send the entire case to criminal court.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Brotherhood, activists to protest Camel Battle acquittals

by admin
October 11th, 2012

The Muslim Brotherhood and its political arm the Freedom and Justice Party are organizing a massive rally on Thursday to protest the acquittals in the "Battle of the Camel" trial.

The Cairo Criminal Court on Wednesday acquitted 24 suspects of killing protesters during the assault on Tahrir Square on 2 and 3 February 2011. No prior date had been set for the verdict. The court decision sparked public ire, with many saying criminals continue to escape punishment.

Muslim Brotherhood Secretary General Mahmoud Hussein said in a statement that the group and other political powers plan to protest Thursday to express the people's anger at the ruling. They also said they will stage another protest on Friday in Tahrir to call for the retrial of all those acquitted of killing protesters.

He added that the demonstrations will call on President Mohamed Morsy to fulfill his pledge to punish the people responsible for protester deaths. He said the group, like the rest of the country, was shocked at the ruling which was issued due to the lack of sufficient evidence and the tampering of indicting evidence.

Essam al-Erian, acting president of the FJP, called on young party members to join the rallies on Thursday and Friday.

The Union of Revolution Youth and the April 6 Youth Movement said they would participate in protests Thursday.

Criminal courts have acquitted several other suspects charged with killing protesters during the 25 January revolution. The most notable acquittal was of six former high-ranking Interior Ministry officials tried alongslide former President Hosni Mubarak.

Ayman al-Sayyad, a presidential adviser, said on Twitter that recognizing the revolution "requires political accountability and revolutionary trials." He said no revolution in the world has led to the trial of the ousted regime by criminal courts. In other countries, deposed leaders are sometimes tried by special tribunals.

"These are not drug smuggling cases, people," he said.

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Update: Camel Battle defendants acquitted

by admin
October 10th, 2012

All 24 defendants in the "Battle of the Camel" case have been acquitted of killing protesters, state-owned Nile News channel reported Wednesday.

The trial, which began last year, included members of the disbanded National Democratic Party, businessmen and former lawmakers. Among those on trial were former Shura Council Speaker Safwat al-Sherif, former People’s Assembly Speaker Fathi Sorour, and ceramics tycoon Mohamed Abul Enein.

A total of 24 defendants, all senior officials of the former regime,were acquitted. Businessman and former leading NDP member Ibrahim Kamel, former Manpower and Immigration Minister Aisha Abdel Hady, former MP Mortada Mansour, and Hussein Megawer, former head of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation, were also charged in the case.

The defendants in the case were accused of involvement in killing protesters on 2 and 3 February last year during the uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

On 2 February, peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators were attacked by assailants in Tahrir Square, some of whom rode horses and camels. At least 11 protesters were killed and hundreds were injured.

A judicial source told the state-run MENA news agency that Attorney General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud is studying the rationale of the verdict.

The source said that the public prosecutor did not investigate that case in the first place, and that investigation was carried out by judges assigned from Cairo Court of Appeal.

For its part, the Revolutionary Socialists Movement said a Friday demonstration would be the best response to the verdict, which it called a “farce." “It was a political judgment,” said movement spokesman Hisham Fouad. “It has nothing to do with the independence of the judiciary.”

“It is but another episode of the series of acquittals the former regime officials obtained,” he added in a statement. “All political forces and civil society organizations will reject this.”

Presidential adviser Seif Abdel Fattah said the evidence brought to the court was insufficient. “A judge bases his judgment on facts and not on his personal premonition,” he told the state-run al-Ahram newspaper.
 
Abdel Fattah added that the president is committed to his pledge to hold re-trials for the killers of the 25 January revolution martyrs.

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Camel Battle defendants acquitted

by admin
October 10th, 2012

All 24 defendants in the "Battle of the Camel" case have been acquitted of killing protesters, state-owned Nile News channel reported Wednesday.

The trial, which began last year, included members of the disbanded National Democratic Party, businessmen and former lawmakers. Among those on trial were former Shura Council Speaker Safwat al-Sherif, former People’s Assembly Speaker Fathi Sorour, and ceramics tycoon Mohamed Abul Enein.

Businessman and former leading NDP member Ibrahim Kamel, former Manpower and Immigration Minister Aisha Abdel Hady, former MP Mortada Mansour, and Hussein Megawer, former head of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation, were also charged in the case.

The defendants in the case were accused of involvement in killing protesters on 2 and 3 February last year during the uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

On 2 February, peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators were attacked by assailants in Tahrir Square, some of whom rode horses and camels. At least 11 protesters were killed and hundreds were injured.

 

 

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Former Shura Council speaker’s attorney demands acquittal in Camel Battle trial

by admin
September 9th, 2012

The Battle of the Camel trial continued on Saturday at the Cairo Criminal Court as the defense attorney for former Shura Council speaker Safwat al-Sherif demanded his client’s acquittal.   

Sherif’s lawyer objected to the prosecutor reading verses from the Qur'an and demanded that the prosecutor discuss only the evidence brought against Sherif.

The lawyer said that the investigations did not prove that his client was involved in the incident and that all the accusations brought against him had no legal basis. He added that both the prosecution and the military court investigations on the incident could not prove whether Sherif had links to the incident and could not determine the main perpetrator.

The lawyer questioned the evidence brought against Sherif and the testimony of witnesses, saying they were just stories based on rumors.

The trial was adjourned to Sunday to hear more arguments from defense attorneys.

The trial, which began last year, includes 24 defendants — members of the disbanded National Democratic Party, businessmen and former lawmakers — accused of involvement in killing protesters on 2 and 3 February last year during the uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

On 2 and 3 February, peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators were attacked by assailants in Tahrir Square, some of whom rode horses and camels, in what became known as the Battle of the Camel. At least 11 protesters were killed.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Brotherhood leader testifies official refused to protect protesters during camel battle

by admin
June 13th, 2012

Freedom and Justice Party MP Mohamed al-Beltagy testified before the Cairo Criminal Court on Wednesday that a major general in the General Intelligence Services refused to secure Tahrir Square during the Battle of the Camel.

Beltagy said that the intelligence official claimed that he could not prevent Egyptian citizens, in this case the camel and horse riders, from expressing their opinions and storming the square.

He added that he was present on Tahrir Square on 2 and 3 February, and he received calls from people he did not know on the morning of 2 February telling him that supporters of the former regime were gathering in different parts of Cairo and Giza with the intention of heading to Tahrir to force the protesters out.

“At 2 pm, someone called my name and asked me to meet a security leader inside the office of the Safir Travel Agency [in Tahrir Square]. I entered the office and met with [him]. He identified himself as Major General Abdel Fattah of the General Intelligence Services. A group of demonstrators accompanied me,” Beltagy continued.

“The major general requested the evacuation of Tahrir Square to prevent bloodshed, and told me that he had information about the existence of groups of Mubarak supporters that were planning to enter Tahrir to clash with demonstrators.”

Beltagy testified that he asked, “'Mr. Major General, how would you allow these thugs to enter Tahrir Square?' The Major General answered, ‘They are Egyptian citizens who want to express their opinion of President Mubarak.’ I told him, ‘Cairo Stadium could be opened to them, it is big enough for thousands,’ to which he responded, ‘They want to express their opinion in Tahrir Square like yourselves, and I cannot stop them.’”

“The debate continued for nearly an hour, and before the end of meeting, I said, ‘Who will guarantee that if protesters leave the square and return to their homes they would get there safely after supporters of the former regime have surrounded the square from all sides?’ He replied, ‘We are responsible for you leaving the square safely, without anyone attacking you.’”

Presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq released statements last week blaming the Muslim Brotherhood for the Battle of the Camel. In response, Beltagy wrote on his Facebook page, “Mr. Shafiq, and whoever is behind him, took the conversation I had out of context so that we will be on the defensive and distracted from continuing to push for his disqualification.”

In Wednesday’s court session, preacher Safwat Hegazy’s attorney apologized for Hegazy’s absence, explaining that the preacher’s health was ill. The court asked for proof. Media personality Tawfiq Okasha, who had been summoned to testify, was also absent from the session.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Shafiq faces fresh accusations in Battle of the Camel

by admin
June 11th, 2012

The Alliance of Egyptian Revolutionaries sent a complaint to Public Prosecutor Abdel Meguid Mahmoud on Monday against former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq for his role in the killing of protesters during the 25 January revolution, accusing him of hiding information about the Battle of the Camel and covering up for its perpetrators.

Shafiq will compete against Mohamed Morsy, the head of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, in the presidential runoff on 16 and 17 June.

The complaint claimed that on 4 June 2012, Shafiq told Khairy Ramadan that he had information about the crimes committed against the revolutionaries, especially in the Battle of the Camel, which had not been presented to the investigating judge.

The group said that Shafiq became confused when Ramadan asked him why he did not divulge such information, and then accused the Muslim Brotherhood and “those with beards” of killing the demonstrators in that battle.

“This did not happen, for we were present and we defended the demonstrators from the thugs,” the Alliance of Egyptian Revolutionaries wrote in the complaint. “And we accuse him [Shafiq] of complicity in that crime.” Attached to the complaint was a CD with video footage of the program with Ramadan.

Assailants riding camels and horses attacked protests against former President Hosni Mubarak on 2 February last year, killing at least 11 people and injuring dozens. The attack became known as the Battle of the Camel.

On Saturday the judge presiding over the Battle of the Camel trial summoned Shafiq, head of the Central Command Zone General Ahmed al-Roweiny, and three TV talk show hosts to testify, responding to requests by the defendants’ lawyers.

Shafiq did not appear in court Monday to testify in the case, in which 24 former officials and businessmen stand trial for allegedly plotting the bloody attack in Tahrir Square last year.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Shafiq, SCAF member miss ‘Battle of the Camel’ trial session

by admin
June 11th, 2012

Presidential candidate and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq did not appear in court Monday to testify in the “Battle of the Camel” case, in which 24 former officials and businessmen stand trial for allegedly plotting the bloody attack in Tahrir Square last year.

Both Shafiq and ruling military council member Major General Hassan al-Roweiny, who had been scheduled to testify, did not attend the session presided over by Judge Mostafa Hassan Abdallah. Activist Mamdouh Hamza, however, did show up to give his testimony.

Assailants riding camels and horses attacked protests against former President Hosni Mubarak on 2 February last year, killing at least 11 people and injuring dozens. The attack became known as the Battle of the Camel.

Talk show host Tawfiq Okasha is also scheduled to appear before court during today’s session after not attending Sunday. His lawyer cited security fears and asked the court to ensure Okasha’s security before he attends.

During Sunday’s session, the Cairo Criminal Court heard testimony from Sayed Ali, a media host at Mehwar satellite channel and a managing editor of state-run Al-Ahram newspaper. Ali said he did not have any evidence implicating the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s largest political group, in the killing of protesters during the attack.

The suspects’ lawyers had recently accused the Brotherhood of killing protesters during the 18-day uprising that led to the toppling of Mubarak. The court on Saturday issued a subpoena for pro-Brotherhood Islamic preacher Safwat Hegazy and Brotherhood MP Mohamed al-Beltagy.

Ali said he watched developments in Tahrir on 2 and 3 February on TV.

“The regime, which had been bragging [about its] use of technology, is today fighting its sons with camels and horses,” Ali quoted himself as saying on his TV show after watching the attack.

Ali said he had a phone-in from Fouad Allam, former deputy chief of the now-dissolved State Security Investigation Services, who leveled a scathing attack against Mubarak-regime officials, accusing them of orchestrating the assault on protesters.

Allam in particular named Safwat al-Sherif, the former secretary general of the previously ruling National Democratic Party, as well as former party member Ibrahim Kamel.

He said his crew failed to reach Sherif for comment but managed to contact Kamel, who denied Allam’s accusations and said that during the attack, he was in Mostafa Mahmoud Square, a gathering venue for Mubarak supporters.

The court ordered the prosecution to provide copies of the ruling issued in Mubarak’s recent trial, as well as former Vice President Omar Suleiman’s testimony. It also requested devices to screen CDs that had been submitted by the defense during Saturday’s session.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Update: Battle of the Camel trial defense team demands Shafiq be charged

by admin
June 10th, 2012

The defense in the "Battle of the Camel" case on Sunday requested that Ali al-Sisy, managing editor of Al-Masry Al-Youm, be summoned to testify. It also demanded that Ahmed Shafiq, who was then prime minister, be charged with helping the attackers gain access to Tahrir Square on 2 February last year while demonstrators were protesting against Hosni Mubarak

The court also heard the testimony of talk show host Sayyed Ali. Ali said he hosted "48 Hours" on the privately owned Mehwar TV channel on 2 and 3 February. “I received a phone-in from Major General Fouad Allam, former deputy of the disbanded state security apparatus, who named two persons and accused them of being behind the incidents.

"They were Safwat al-Sherif, former secretary general of the disbanded National Democratic Party, and Ibrahim Kamel, an NDP member. I requested the talk show staff contact them. Sherif didn’t respond, while Kamel answered. He misunderstood me when he thought I was accusing him. I told him it was Allam who accused him. However, he got angry and said: 'I’m in Mostafa Mahmoud Square and I have no relation with what was going on in Tahrir Square.'

"Five minutes after the show was over, I was surprised by phone calls and messages in English threatening to kill me. After that, campaigns were launched against me and the channel."

Ali called on court to summon activist Nagat Abdel Rahman, who appeared on the talk show. He said she has information that could reveal a big part of the truth.

“Following the ouster of the former president, revolutionaries started to explain what happened in Tahrir,” he said, adding that the revolutinaries had evidence of the thuggery that occurred.

Ali submitted CDs containing evidence given to him by Tarek Zeidan, head of the Egyptian Revolution Party.

Earlier today:

Talk show hosts Khairy Ramadan, Tawfiq Okasha and Sayyed Ali are scheduled to testify Sunday in the “Battle of the Camel” trial.

Cairo Criminal Court summoned the three on Saturday after requests by the suspects’ defense.

Testimonies from presidential candidate and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, member of the ruling military council Major General Hassan al-Roweiny and activist Mamdouh Hamza are to be heard Monday.

Islamic preacher Safwat Hegazy and Freedom and Justice Party MP Mohamed al-Beltagy have been summoned to give their testimonies on 12 June.

The suspects include 24 figures of the disbanded National Democratic Party, businessmen and former members of Parliament.

They are accused of involvement in killing protesters on 2 and 3 February last year during the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak.

On 2 February, peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators were attacked by assailants in Tahrir Square, some of whom were mounted on horses and camels. The attack became known as the Battle of the Camel. At least 11 protesters were killed.

The court ordered the prosecution to provide copies of the ruling issued in the trial of Hosni Mubarak, and former Vice President Omar Suleiman’s testimony. It also requested devices to screen CDs that that had been submitted by the defense during Saturday’s session.

The suspects’ defense claimed the incidents were planned by the Muslim Brotherhood.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Talk show hosts testify in Battle of the Camel case

by admin
June 10th, 2012

Talk show hosts Khairy Ramadan, Tawfiq Okasha and Sayed Ali are scheduled to testify Sunday in the “Battle of the Camel” trial.

Cairo Criminal Court summoned the three on Saturday after requests by the suspects’ defense.

Testimonies from presidential candidate and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, member of the ruling military council Major General Hassan al-Roweiny and activist Mamdouh Hamza are to be heard Monday.

Islamic preacher Safwat Hegazy and Freedom and Justice Party MP Mohamed al-Beltagy have been summoned to give their testimonies on 12 June.

The suspects include 24 figures of the disbanded National Democratic Party, businessmen and former members of Parliament.

They are accused of involvement in killing protesters on 2 and 3 February last year during the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak.

On 2 February, peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators were attacked by assailants in Tahrir Square, some of whom were mounted on horses and camels. The attack became known as the Battle of the Camel. At least 11 protesters were killed.

The court ordered the prosecution to provide copies of the ruling issued in the trial of Hosni Mubarak, and former Vice President Omar Suleiman’s testimony. It also requested devices to screen CDs that that had been submitted by the defense during Saturday’s session.

The suspects’ defense claimed the incidents were planned by the Muslim Brotherhood.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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