Court orders arrest of policeman accused of killing activist Sabbagh

Sunday 10-05-2015 06:32 PM
Court orders arrest of policeman accused of killing activist Sabbagh

Shaimaa al-Sabbagh (L), member of the Socialist Popular Alliance Party, takes part in a protest in downtown Cairo shortly before her reported death, on Saturday, January 24, 2015. ASWAT MASRIYA/Mohamed al-Rayi

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CAIRO, May 10 (Aswat Masriya) - A Cairo criminal court ordered the arrest of the police officer accused of being responsible for the killing of activist Shaimaa al-Sabbagh earlier this year, during a trial session on Sunday.

The court ordered placing the policeman in preventative detention and postponed the trial.

Sabbagh, who was a member of the Socialist Popular Alliance Party, was killed while protesting in Downtown Cairo on January 24, one day ahead of the fourth anniversary of the January 2011 uprising.  

In March, Egypt's top prosecutor identified the prime suspect in her killing as a police officer in the central security forces branch of the police, which usually handles riots.  

The police officer was referred by prosecutors to criminal court where he faces two charges, committing physical assault which led to the death of Sabbagh and causing deliberate injuries to other protesters.

Members of Sabbagh's party who staged the protest faced charges for protesting without prior notice, and consequently violating the 2013 protest law, in a separate case. 

Sabbagh's killing sparked wide condemnation by several Egyptian political parties including al-Dostour Party and the Egyptian Social Democratic Party and even internationally, by global watchdog Human Rights Watch.  

crowded funeral was held for her the day after her death in the coastal city of Alexandria, where she hails from.  

The trial will resume in a session on May 14. 

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