Cairo Criminal Court decided on Tuesday to postpone the first trial session of former President Mohamed Morsi to Feb. 22, concerning the Wadi al-Natroun prison break case during the January 25 Revolution.
The judge in charge of Morsi’s trial Shaban al-Shamy allowed Morsi to speak through a microphone from inside glass cage during the first session of the Wadi al-Natroun prison trial on Tuesday.
Morsi began his speech; “In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, I really appreciate the jury away from any positions or responsibilities. I agreed with Saleem al-Awa to submit a detailed explanation about the lack of jurisdiction to consider the lawsuit and regarding the constitutional stance on the trial.”
The case involves 131 other suspects belonging to Muslim Brotherhood leaders, Hamas, and Hezbollah, for conspiring to release prisoners from Wadi al-Natroun prison during the revolution, leading to chaos aiming to bring down the regime.
“I want judges to stay away from politics. I am not in feud with them, I was arrested because of the complicity of the Minister of Defense and the Republican Guard Commander on July 3, 2013. I was then taken to an unknown place even the judge did not know about. I am keening to keep judges away from these altercations and from the military coup,” he added.
“Some judges, including Hassan Samir and Ibrahim Saleh, came to where I was imprisoned and wanted to investigate me but with all due respect, I told them that they are here for a visit and not to investigate me. So keep yourselves away from coup, since before you came here you did not have any idea where I am,” Morsi said.
“If you wanted to see me, then you have to ask me for permission and I will determine the date and time. I am an Egyptian citizen and I have rights, I have the right to know where I was, and I did not see anybody since Nov. 12 until now. The trial procedures are invalid. As a legitimate president for the country, I have rights, and the trial must have legal specifications,” he said.
The Court President Judge Shaaban el-Shamy and spokesperson for the defense team in charge of Morsi’s cases Mohamed el-Damaty had an argument during his the session.
Damaty expressed his displeasure to the circumstances surrounding Morsi’s trial, which the judge considered to be offensive to the court institution. Damaty was complaining about the complicated procedures for the defense team to attend the trials and communicate with Morsi, adding that security forces lack decency while dealing with the team on their way to court.
