Morsi’s trial to begin in November; Egypt media

Egyptian state-run media say the trial of ousted President Mohamed Morsi over the killing of protesters is to start on November 4.

The official MENA news agency announced on Wednesday that the deposed president, along with 14 other defendants are to stand trial in November, on charges of inciting the murder of protesters outside Morsi’s office in December 12.

The scuffles between the supporters of Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi and his opponents broke out after Muslim Brotherhood followers dispersed a sit-in staged by Morsi’s opponents outside the presidential palace.

Anti-Morsi protesters had rallied to protest at a temporary decree adopted by the then president, placing his decree beyond judicial review.

Scores of people were killed in the clashes, though Muslim Brotherhood claimed the victims were mostly the group’s supporters.

On July 3, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the head of the Egyptian army, pushed aside Morsi, the country’s first democratically-elected president and detained him in a secret location since then.

More than 2,000 Muslim Brotherhood members, including the party leader Mohamed Badie were also jailed.

Al-Sisi declared Chief Justice of Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court Adly Mansour as the interim president on July 4.

About 1,000 people were killed in a week of violence between Morsi supporters and security forces after police dispersed their protest camps in a deadly operation on August 14.

The trial comes as Egypt’s interim government stripped the Muslim Brotherhood of NGO status on October 3, following a judicial order.

In September, an Egyptian court ordered the Brotherhood to stop operating and confiscated its assets. The court also banned any institution branching out from or belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood.