11/04/2013, 00.00
EGYPT - ISLAM
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Trial against former President Mohamed Morsi begins

Along with leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, he is accused of instigating protesters to kill opponents. Large deployment of security forces, while the Islamists plan protests. Fears of a return to power of the military.

Cairo ( AsiaNews / Agencies) - The trial of former President Mohamed Morsi and 14 other leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood opened this morning. All are accused of instigating the killing of protesters during anti - Morsi protests last December.

The former president has already arrived at the court transported from a secret location by helicopter. The security forces - with at least 20 thousand policemen - are on maximum alert against possible demonstrations and clashes with Morsi supporters.

The trial is taking place in the same building as the police academy in Cairo, where the trial of Morsi's predecessor, Hosni Mubarak, is also being held.

A popular uprising toppled Mubarak in 2011, raising hopes for economic improvement and greater democracy. Morsi 's victory - albeit won through elections bound by the formal point of view - led to an ever-increasing power of the Muslim Brotherhood (Fm) , who attempted to occupy all positions of command, with a resulting greater Islamization of the country and a failure of the economy.

Last summer, tens of millions of Egyptians demonstrated against Morsi demanding his overthrow. The army, claiming to respond to the will of the people, detained Morsi and promised a road-map for a new constitution and free and fair elections. Morsi's deposition - desired even by many Muslims and even by the Salafis - generated a lot of violence against Christians - with attacks and burning of Christian churches, homes and shops - and a series of attacks against the military . In an effort to guarantee order, Muslim Brotherhood organizations were outlawed and several of their leaders were arrested.

Egyptian society is now tense and divided. A few days ago, three judges set to judge the leader of MB, Mohammed Badie , and two of his aides resigned from office. Ahead of Morsi's trial his supporters called for some protoests, but it is unclear whether it will be possible for them to gather given the heavy deployment of soldiers .

On the eve of trial, the newspaper Al Watan posted a video on its website, where Morsi is seen at his place of detention, while talking with strangers of his trial. Dressed in a tracksuit, he states that his being brought to trial is "a crime" any way you look at it.

According to the MB, the deposition of Morsi was a military coup led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al- Sisi, according to more than 30 million Egyptians - who were demanding his ouster - it was an act of freedom. But many fear that the military could return to power as has been the case since the time of Gamal Abdel Nasser.

 

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