The report that police officer Emad Tahoun filed against Alaa Abdel Fattah in the Shura Council case is forged, according to defence lawyer Taher Aboul Nasr. Aboul Nasr said the report is written in two different handwritings, one crammed in what looked like a previously blank space in the report. Aboul Nasr said: "The prosecution is not putting up an honest fight." He added that cell phone records show Tahoun was talking on his mobile at the time he claims Abdel Fattah attacked him and stole his walkie-talkie. The lawyer called the trial a "low police masquerade". Cairo Criminal Court postponed the Shura Council case to 10 January, when the court will listen to defence lawyer Khaled Ali give his closing argument. All 25 defendants, including activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, stand accused of violating the Protest Law, issued by then interim president Adly Mansour in November 2013. They also stand accused of "thuggery", acquiring weapons during the protest, illegal assembly, blocking roads, and attacking a police officer and stealing his radio. Accordingly, they were sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison and to 5 years under surveillance thereafter, in addition to an EGP 100,000 fine in June. Later that month, the Appeals Court set the date for their retrial. The protest in question was organised to voice opposition to Article 198 of the constitution, which allows military trials for civilians under certain conditions. The activists described their protest, which took place in front of Shura Council on 26 November 2013, as "peaceful".
