Legalbrief | your legal news hub Friday 01 October 2021

Trial date set for Brotherhood leaders

An Egyptian court has set a trial date for leaders in a move likely to enrage supporters of ousted Islamist President .

A report on the News24 site notes that it came as US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns met the army chief amid intense efforts to try to resolve the political crisis since the army ousted Morsi in July. Supreme Guide Mohammed Badie, who is currently in hiding, and his two deputies - Khairat al-Shater and Rashad Bayoumi - who are being held in 's Tora prison, are accused of inciting violence against protesters outside the Islamist group's headquarters on 30 June, according to the report. It notes they will face trial on 25 August with three Brotherhood members who are accused of killing protesters. Morsi himself has been formally remanded in custody on suspicion of offences committed when he escaped from prison during the 2011 revolt that toppled former President . Meanwhile, Morsi's allies are secretly discussing a face-saving deal in which the toppled President could be released from detention and allowed to officially 'resign'. That's according to a source close to negotiations currently taking place between opposing sides in Cairo. reports that the options being considered include allowing Morsi to announce his resignation in a televised address and formerly hand his executive powers to interim Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi. The report states another possibility is that he could be released and flown into exile, said the source who added: 'We're hoping to find a dignified exit for him'. The National Defence Council, a group which includes interim President and army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi this weekend said a political settlement would not protect 'law-breakers' from retribution - a thinly veiled threat to Islamists who have been accused by their opponents of inciting violence, according to the report. Full report on the News24 site Full report in The Independent

US Secretary of State John Kerry said Egypt's military was 'restoring democracy' when it ousted Morsi last month. Kerry said the removal was at the request of 'millions and millions of people'. BBC News reports that Washington has refused to describe Morsi's removal as a 'coup' because doing so would require Washington to cut off its estimated $1.5bn in annual aid to Egypt. Meanwhile, Egyptian authorities have offered 'safe passage and protection' for thousands of supporters of the country's ousted President if they end their marathon sit-ins in Cairo. Full BBC News report