Tag: courts

Mahalla 49 trial updates

Posted on By 3arabawy

Today’s session of the Mahalla 49 trial is still in process. Some updates from journalist friends who are in Tanta now:

Sarah Carr: “Defence pleadings continue in Mahalla 49 case. Final day of case today.”

Per Bjorklund: “A teacher from Taha Hussein school testify that the computers used as evidence were not stolen from the school.”

Sarah Carr: “Defence lawyers r being continuously interrupted during their pleadings. A protester is arrested in the Tanta court house. But is released almost immediately.”

Per Bjorklund: “The prosecutor can hardly keep his eyes open. He fell asleep twice.”

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Photos from the trial by Sarah Carr:

Mahalla 49 trial: Police tampers evidence

Posted on By 3arabawy

During yesterday’s session, the judges were surprised to find the memory card of James Buck’s camera, confiscated by the police during the Mahalla uprising, to be blank. The defense team accused the police of tampering the evidence. In an email conversation with Buck, he stated:

Well I can tell them EXACTLY what was on that card. If it’s blank, they tampered! I was taking photos of women protesting when they kidnapped me!
In any case that card had at least 50 photos on it I’d say, primarily of the evening I was arrested — the women who were waiting for their arrested men were making a very calm sit-in protest, and a few were standing holding signs. Mohammed would remember what they said. They were asking for info on their sons, husbands, etc, who went missing. I had been photographing them for a few days (the photos of the women wailing) but the police REALLY didn’t want me getting shots evidencing the ‘missing,’ because whenever i got near them I was harassed by plainclothes officers and they tried to grab me several times.
By the way, that card was supposed to be returned, that much is on record with my embassy, the very fact that they HAVE it proves illegal activity on their part. As well there is the prosecutor’s report releasing me and Mohamemd before his re-arrest.