Egypt

Court adjourns Imbaba violence trials to February

The Supreme State Security Court in Giza on Sunday postponed to 5 February the trials of 48 suspects accused of inciting sectarian violence in Imbaba in May.

Egypt's military police chief and the chief military investigator will be summoned to testify.

Last May, clashes erupted between Muslims and Christians following rumors that a female convert to Islam was being held in a church in the Imbaba neighborhood of Cairo. Fifteen people were reportedly killed and 190 wounded. The church was burned to the ground.

The defendants face charges of murder, endangering public peace, igniting sectarian strife, setting the church on fire and possessing unlicensed weapons and ammunition.

The court is arranging a visit to the scene of the incident. Public prosecutors also plan to contact mobile phone service operatrors to review the defendants' call records.

Meanwhile, dozens of supporters of Abu Yahia, one of the defendants, rallied outside the courtroom demanding his release.

Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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