Verdict Challenged By Government
The landmark verdict passed this week, which called the Egyptian government's policy of sending civilians to military tribunals 'unconstitutional', is being challenged by the government:
CAIRO: Authorities filed an objection Wednesday to a court verdict that ruled it unlawful for the Egyptian president to transfer civilians to military tribunals, thus acquitting 40 high-ranking members of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) on Monday.
According to members of the MB, the acquitted MB leaders will be kept in detainment until May 19 when a hearing on the new governmental objection will be held in Cairo’s Abdeen Court.
“This is clearly politically motivated and a violation of human rights. Our members have been acquitted by four different courts now, but are still imprisoned. The whole thing is just ridiculous,” Ibrahim El-Houdaiby a member of the Muslim Brotherhood told The Daily Star Egypt.
While El-Houdaiby was shocked over the extended detainment of his fellow members, he stressed that it did not come as a surprise to many of the detainees.
“We can soon start a collection of all the court verdicts that have ordered our release. I expect to see more of this coming,” one of the imprisoned leaders reportedly said.
Deputy Brotherhood leader Mohamed Habib reportedly told Reuters that “the Brotherhood is used to this kind of behavior. This is the method of the regime and the ruling party.”
Rights watchdog Human Rights Watch was not surprised over the turn in the case either.
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