The criminal court in Egypt's Alexandria decided to adjourn the trial of police officers accused of torturing and killing Egyptian citizen Said Belal in the investigations of the All Saint Church bombing in Egypt on New Year's Eve 2010, until this Monday. The court heard Saturday the testimony of a policeman, Ra'fat Hussien, from State Security and banned his testimony from the public, over fear it could influence other witnesses. A number of police from the former state security apparatus, which enjoyed a notorious reputation of torture and murder, currently called National Security with official promises of reform, continue to face trial over their actions during the previous regime. Tens of activists and human rights supporters protested outside the court, putting pressure for a fair trial amid a large security presence. Tens of army vehicles and anti-riot police trucks surrounded the streets around the court in Alexandria, in an attempt to maintain order. The activists chanted “Belal's blood will not go to waste” and “our martyrs will prevail.” Said Belal, a young father of a two year old, was arrested following the bombing of the church in Alexandria, which killed over 20 people. He was beaten to death in an attempt to extract information or a confession into the bombing. Belal, a religious man who frequently attended prayer and lessons at a local mosque, was an example of “good manners and clean name,” activists have repeatedly said, but in the frenzy that followed the bombing, he was arrested along with dozens of others by the local police. They tortured and beat the “suspects” and Belal was killed during the violence. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/OiXpi Tags: Bombing, Church, featured, Torture Section: Egypt, Human Rights, Latest News, Religion
