- Global Voices - https://globalvoices.org -

Egypt: Khaled Saeed Murder Trial Postponed

Categories: Middle East & North Africa, Egypt, Breaking News, Human Rights, Law, Politics, Protest

This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011 [1].

Khaled Saeed, a young man from Alexandria allegedly killed [2] at the hands of policemen in June, has become an icon of the Egyptian revolution. His murder fueled discontent among young Egyptians in the weeks leading to the revolution after images of his battered body went viral.

Despite increasingly angry calls to bring Saeed's murderers to justice, Alexandria's Criminal Court has postponed the verdict in the case against the policemen accused of beating Saeed to death until September 24, 2011.

A large number of supporters and activists travelled from Cairo to Alexandria to witness the trial. Here are some of their reactions to the postponement, after they were barred from entering the court house.

Al Jazeera‘s Aymen Mohyeldin, who was there at the trial, breaks the news [3] in a tweet:

@AymanM: #KhaledSaid verdict delayed to September 24 @AJEnglish @ajbreakingnews

He further explains [4]:

@AymanM: #KhaledSaid trial verdict delay was bcoz original reports had glaring inconsistencies with new evidence. It could mean more severe charges

Adding [5]:

@AymanM: Charges against police who killed #KhaledSaid could now be increased from manslaughter to torture and murder @AJEnglish

He concludes [6]:

@AymanM: New evidence means possible new charges. Current charges would only be punishable upto 7 to 15 yrs new charges could yield life or death

Wael Ghonim, the administrator of the We are All Khaled Said page on Facebook, where much of the discontent following Saeed's murder was fueled, called [7] for calm:

@Ghonim: I suggest that we all calm down and wait till we hear from #KhaledSaid lawyer.

The advice made sense as Lilian Wagdy notes [8] that it was the Saeed family's lawyer who asked for a postponement of the trial:

lawyer essam sadany of the defence team said adjouring verdict deliery was upon their request #khaledsaid

And El Mansi confirms [9] [ar]:

تأكيد:من محامي عائلة خالد سعيد التأجيل كان بناء علي طلبهم لاعاده واصلاح التقرير الفاسد #khaledsaid رتويت
@elmansi: Confirmation: Khalid Saeed's lawyer says they made the request to postpone the trial to rewrite and fix the corrupt report. PLease retweet
[10]

Protesters outside the Alexandria Court this morning. Photo by Gigi Ibrahim

Gigi Ibrahim was also there and notes [11]:

@Gsquare86: Made it to the court demo, many familiar faces in support of #khaledsaid http://yfrog.com/klydpzsj

Sarrah shares [12] a photograph of the gathering outside the court and comments:

[13]

Protesters outside the court chanting. Photo by Sarrah

@sarrahsworld: At the #khaledSaid court ruling. Ppl chanting same3 om shahid betnady, men yegebly 7a2 welady. http://yfrog.com/h31xutcj

@sarrahsworld: At the #khaledSaid court ruling. Ppl chanting “I can hear the mother of the martyr calling: who will bring me my son's justice?”

And Dima Khatib, who also traveled from Cairo to Alexandria, tweets [14]:

@Dima_Khatib: Chanting outside court: “We swear in the martyrs’ names that revolution is starting again” #khaledsaid

In another tweet, she notes [15]:

@Dima_Khatib: Man with sign: “Interior Ministry offers following services: kill me thank u, hit me thank u, kick me thank u. Just call 122″ !

And adds [16]:

@Dima_Khatib: Small demo near court, just where TANKS are blocking the road. “Mr Tantawi how much did you get paid for martyrs’ blood”?!! #khaledsaid

Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi is the commander-in-chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces and has been the de facto head of state of Egypt since the ousting of president Hosni Mubarak.

Human rights activist Ramy Raoof was also there, doing what he does best. Raoof live broadcast [17] the protests outside the Alexandria Criminal Court.

This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011 [1].