The Cairo Court of Appeals on Monday rejected a request submitted by the lawyer of the defendants in the Tahrir Square sexual assault case to replace the panel and fined him LE4,000.
The lawyer claimed the judge was intransigent and rough with the defendants and overly compassionate with the victims. He also said that the lawyers of the plaintiffs were guiding the witnesses without the court intervening.
The prosecutor general had last month referred 12 suspects accused of sexually assaulting, wounding and attempting to murder five women in Tahrir Square during the celebration of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s victory in the presidential election.
One of the assaults was caught on video and posted onto YouTube, creating both local and international outrage. Officials have stepped up, promising to punish those involved in sexual violence.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
