Egyptian Islamist Preacher Hegazy Slapped With Fresh Incitement Charge

On Tuesday, Egyptian prosecution levied a new charge for incitement of murder against Islamist preacher and Muslim Brotherhood supporter Safwat Hegazy.

Hegazy, who was detained on Wednesday pending an investigation that started on Saturday, was slapped with a fresh incitement charge regarding the 15 July clashes between supporters of ousted President Morsi and police forces in Ramsis Square, Downtown Cairo.

Prosecutors extended Hegazy’s detainment for 15 more days following Tuesday’s accusations. He had already been given a 15-day extension on Monday.

Hegazy was accused of inciting an attempt to storm Al-Azbakeya police station near Ramsis Square, as well as for targeting policemen with firearms.

He currently faces several charges, including attempted murder and incitement of violence against opponents of deposed president Mohamed Morsi within pro-Morsi protest camps in Cairo’s Rabaa Al-Adawiya Square and Giza’s Al-Nahda Square, as well as for his role in earlier clashes between supporters and opponents of Morsi at the Presidential palace in December.

Following the violent dispersal of the pro-Morsi sit-ins on 14 August, security forces have carried out mass arrests of members and leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. The government has repeatedly accused Islamists of committing “terrorist acts” against their opponents.

Source : Ahram