The first circuit administrative court presided by Vice-President of the State Council Mohamed Keshta referred a case, filed by prominent detained Muslim Brotherhood member Mohamed Al-Beltagy, to the state commissioners to analyse the legality of his complaint on Tuesday. Al-Beltagy filed a case against the Minister of Justice calling on him to set objective standards and controls in choosing the courts that have jurisdiction over the Muslim Brotherhood criminal cases, according to state run Al-Ahram. Over the past few months, several judges have recused themselves when deciding cases concerning the Muslim Brotherhood citing "distress." The cases are then referred back to the appeals court, which again transfers the case. Al-Beltagy is currently held on various charges. He filed the complaint on 7 November after the Appeals Court general assembly selected the courts which will decide cases concerning the Muslim Brotherhood. Police arrested Al-Beltagy on 29 August after two weeks in hiding following the dispersal of the Raba'a sit-in. Al-Beltagy faces charges over accusations of torture and murder during the December 2012 anti-government protests in front of the presidential palace.
