Mohammed Morsi today told a Cairo court trying him for inciting murder that he remains the “legitimate president” of Egypt.
His defiance came in response to the judge calling his name after identifying him as a “defendant”. He replied: “I am Dr Mohammed Morsi, the president of the republic. I am Egypt’s legitimate president.” He added: “I refuse to be tried by this court.”
His statement came before the trial of the deposed president and fellow members of the Muslim Brotherhood was halted by chanting from defendants in the Cairo courtroom.
The judge said the chants were disrupting proceedings and adjourned for several hours. The hearing was also delayed by Mr Morsi’s refusal to change into the prison uniform normally worn by defendants, part of his refusal to recognise the trial’s legitimacy.
Mr Morsi was flown from a secret location by helicopter into Cairo’s police academy for the start of his trial. He was seen from a distance in civilian clothes — his first appearance in public since he was ousted by the army in July. He and other members of the Muslim Brotherhood are charged with inciting the killing of protesters in a demonstration outside the presidential palace when Mr Morsi’s supporters clashed with anti-government protesters.
If convicted Mr Morsi, Egypt’s first freely-elected president, could face the death penalty. Riot police and armoured vehicles were deployed outside the police compound and other public buildings in Egypt.
Associated Press reported that the trial is taking place in a polarised nation and in a highly-charged atmosphere with Mr Morsi’s Islamist followers bitterly opposed to the military regime which has the backing of secular groups and the Christian minority.
Mr Morsi’s supporters have called the detention a kidnapping. He was ousted by the military following a popular uprising after he issued a decree giving himself wide-ranging powers.
The interim government has also cracked down on the Brotherhood, banning the Islamist organisation and arresting dozens of senior figures. Human rights groups accuse the security services of acting without accountability.
