North Cairo Criminal Court adjourned on Sunday the espionage trial of deposed President Mohamed Morsy and 35 Brotherhood members to 27 February until the current judges are replaced, according to the defense lawyers' request.
The lawyers claimed the request was based on suspicions of enmity between the court panel and the suspects.
One of the lawyers delegated by the Lawyers Syndicate to defend the suspects said that Morsy was the legitimate president of Egypt.
However, another delegated lawyer said the glass cage is found in many trials across the world, which made the suspects mock him and clap saying ‘bravo.' One of the defendants in the cage screamed against being kept in the cage and the defense's words.
Deposed President Mohamed Morsy had arrived on Sunday at the Police Academy for trial, along with 35 other suspects affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood, on charges of espionage.
Calm prevailed amidst high security measures inside and outside of the academy and the absence of Brotherhood supporters from the area around the premises as well as streets leading to it.
Police and military vehicles were stationed during the proceedings in front of Gate No. 8, the allocated entrance for media professionals, journalists and lawyers. Detectives were seen around the fence of the academy to prevent any Brotherhood members from gaining access to the building and disrupting the trial.
All suspects involved in the lawsuit had been transferred under tight security from Tora prison.
The court earlier decided to delegate 10 lawyers from the Lawyers Syndicate to defend the suspects. The lawyers were allowed to review the lawsuit documents without paying fees.
The defense team, headed by Mohamed Selim al-Awa, decided to withdraw from the trial after their request to remove the glass cage, where the suspects are kept at, was rejected.
“We cannot continue in a court where suspects are isolated in a glass cage without being able to hear anything,” Awa added.
Among other things, prosecutors accused Morsy of espionage for Hamas and providing its members with information about the Egyptian security situation during the 25 January revolution. They also accused him of helping detained Hamas members in Egyptian prisons escape during the January uprising.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm and MENA
