On October 9, 2011, military armored vehicles mowed down unarmed Coptic protesters who had organized a peaceful march heading towards the state TV building, known as Maspero (near Tahrir Square) to demand equal rights for Egypt’s Christians. Since then, some of the activists and priests had been charged with inciting violence, while the case against the three security personnel being prosecuted is continuously postponed.
In a press conference held at the Egyptian Initiative’s headquarters, the victims’ defense team said that “Throughout the past twelve hearings, the court demonstrated that it has no interest in justice.”
During the press conference, the defense team made a list of demands:
Firstly, an independent civilian body take over the investigation.
Such body should have full authority and jurisdiction to put military personnel on trial, the defense team emphasized.
They further asserted that the investigation should incorporate details about media allegations and incitement against Copts.
Said body would be required to publish its findings in a press conference within three weeks, identifying the culprits and determining ensuing legal measures to bring all involved to justice.
MidEast Christian News inquired about the defense team’s legal strategy. Hossam Bahgat, the head of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, said: “Our withdrawal aims to give the civilian investigation judge an opportunity to complete his inquiry. However, if we find that even a civilian investigation does not bring justice we will proceed to file a lawsuit in the International Court of Justice, although we hope it doesn’t get to that point.”
The military prosecution had charged three army personnel with involuntary manslaughter of 14 protesters outside the state TV building in Maspero. The prosecution accused the three soldiers of “negligence and reckless driving of military armored vehicles,” adding that the soldiers “inconsiderately drove the vehicles in an arbitrary manner which was inappropriate on a road fully-packed with protesters.”
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