The head of the advocacy committee for An Nabaa newspaper, whose graphic account of an alleged monk’s sexual antics recently sparked Coptic Christians to riot in Cairo, believes that an objective examination of the facts will prove his publication innocent of all charges.
Ahmed Asaad told Albawaba.com that considering the case objectively would prove the innocence of the newspaper and its editor in chief, Mamdouh Mahran, who are charged with obscenity and publishing material harmful to the national unity.
“What the newspaper reported about the subject was nothing more than what [Coptic] Pope Shnouda said about that delinquent person,” said Asaad. “An Nabaa has also a unique record of defending our Christian brothers. There is a big difference between a tabloid, which An Nabaa was labeled as, and a daring press.”
“A tabloid publishes lies and inflammatory statements about adultery, while the publishing of facts is considered courage, which I defend,” added Asaad.
Asaad told Albawaba.com that he, as a former judge, knew how to deal with the case “out of the media spotlight.”
He added that he had become more fully convinced of the innocence of his client after reviewing the past issues of the newspaper.
The court decided Sunday to postpone the case until July 1 upon the request of the defendants’ lawyers to view case documents.
The hearing was marred by a scuffle between lawyers. The judge left the courtroom and security guards moved in to restore order after the shouting match between Christian lawyers and attorneys defending Mahran.
Mahran allowed the publication of photographs showing a former monk allegedly having sex with women inside a monastery in Assiut. An accompanying article alleged the former monk ran a sex-and-blackmail ring out of the monastery.
Egypt's Christian Copts say the allegations fuel prejudice against them and have staged protests against the report. Apparently reacting to their outrage, the government has charged Mahran with undermining national security and inciting sectarian divisions.
Mahran was absent from the trial Sunday, and his lawyers said the law did not require his presence. If convicted, he could face up 12 years in prison, according to The Associated Press.
Lawyers for Coptic plaintiffs protested a defense statement, circulated in the packed courtroom, that "some shortsighted people took advantage (of what was published), saying the newspaper wanted to defame the religious sanctities that are respected by everyone."
The publication was meant to "to purify the church from the likes of the perverted guy," defense lawyer Mursi el-Sheik told reporters, repeating what the defendant himself had told interrogators.
"We will not stay idle," shouted one Christian lawyer. "This could have turned the Nile River to a river of blood," another lawyer, Naguib Gobraiell, said, according to the AP.
Commenting on the case Sunday, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was quoted by the agency as denouncing the newspaper for failing to respect social and religious values.
"We in Egypt respect the beliefs of every citizen and we have to protect the country's unity for the interest of its citizens ... and we should never allow anyone to sow the seeds of sedition," Mubarak said during a meeting with members of his ruling party. The Egyptian courts will examine three other cases Tuesday on related subjects.
The first and second ones are suits filed by Mahran against the Egyptian Press Association contesting its decision to expel him, and against the minister of interior for his decision to bar the newspaper from publishing.
The third case was filed by the Higher Press Council demanding the cancellation of An Nabaa’s newspaper license.
Some 50 Coptic lawyers are representing plaintiffs in the primary case. One of them, Mamdouh Nakhlah, told Albawaba.com that the case had so far proceeded well, and that quick actions by the court indicated that officials wanted to wrap it up quickly.
However, many Coptic lawyers on Sunday demanded that the court refer the case to an even higher court - Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
