An Egyptian court Thursday acquitted Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badia and senior leaders of the group in the well-known case of the "Mosque of Righteousness" events.
Today's ruling is the first collective acquittal of leaders in a case since 2013, which saw the arrest of most of the leaders of the country's largest organization in July following the overthrow of President-elect Mohamed Morsi.
According to two legal sources, the Giza Criminal Court on Thursday acquitted Badi, Mohammed El-Beltagy, Issam El-Erian, former Minister of Supply Bassem Odeh, Advocate Safwat Hijazi and four others for re-trial for the second time in the case.
"This is the first judgment of its kind in a case of innocence in a case since 2013, as well as the first collective acquittal in a case of leaders of the group," Abdel Moneim Abdel Maqsoud, head of Badia's defense and leadership, said.
The ruling is subject to appeal before the Court of Cassation within 60 days of its issuance, through the Public Prosecution, which has not yet announced its decision on the sentence.
The prosecution charged the accused with nine counts of murdering and murdering 21 others, joining a group established against the law, intentional damage to public property, including a military police station, possession of weapons and ammunition, and gathering in the Giza Square events west of Cairo.
On October 4, 2014, the defense filed an appeal against the convictions of the accused, while the Egyptian law gives the accused the right to retrial in case of arrest or surrender.
The incident took place in Giza Square, west of Cairo, on 22 July 2013, following the outbreak of violence between protesters and opponents in the vicinity of the mosque.