The prosecution on Tuesday decided to transfer the defendants in the Kafr al-Waselin church attack in Atfih to an urgent trial and set the first hearing on Wednesday in the case No. 11359 Misdemeanor, which includes 15 defendants charged with demonstrating and assaulting Copts. The prosecution also transferred Coptic Eid Attia to trial in today’s hearing on charges of establishing a building without a permit.
His Excellency, Bishop Zusima, formed a leagal team to defend Eid Attia, including Ibrahim Edward, Hani Ramses and Atef Nazmi, as well as the Archbishop’s lawyers who have been following the investigation since the attack including: Said Mounir and Hani Fahmi. The defense team commented on the case that the transfer of Eid Attia to the trial is a way out for the investigation authorities from a legal impasse, since it is not possible to renew the precautionary detention for another 15 days in this charge, which is establishing a building without a permit, in which pre-trial detention is not allowed, because this is a case of reconciliation and therefore there is no justification for imprisonment.
But rather transferred him to trial, to make a balance with other defendants transferred to trial. The prosecution also did not charge them with assaulting a church but attacking a house owned by a Copt, in an attempt to evade the ecclesiastical status of the building that the Diocese sought to legalize the building’s status under a 2016 law that laid down the rules for building churches.
