Battle Of The Camel Acquittals Upheld By Egyptian Court

Egypt’s Court of Cassation rejected on Wednesday an appeal filed by the prosecution against the acquittal of a group of Mubarak-era officials who were accused of perpetrating a notorious attack on Tahrir Square protesters during the 25 January uprising.

On 10 October, a Cairo criminal court acquitted all 25 defendants who were charged with offences related to the incident on 2 February 2011, known as the ‘Battle of the Camel.’

During the battle, pro-Mubarak thugs on camels and horses stormed Tahrir Square where peaceful protesters were holding a demonstration, killing 11 protesters and injuring more than two thousand. Unknown snipers, who were reportedly deployed on top of surrounding buildings, also shot at demonstrators.

The verdict last year prompted public uproar, and mass protests called on Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to intervene and order a retrial.

State prosecutors came under fire for allegedly failing to provide adequate evidence to convict the defendants.

Prosecutors officially filed an appeal on 19 December.

Former parliament speaker Ahmed Fathi Sorour, former head of the Shura Council Safwat El-Sherif, and former minister of manpower Aisha Abdel-Hadi are among the defendants in the case.

Ahram