(AFP PHOTO / MAHMOUD BAKKAR)
Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat referred 48 suspects to the criminal court on accusations of murdering journalist Mayada Ashraf in 2014, state-run newspaper Al-Ahram reported Saturday.
According to Barakat’s statement, 48 members of the Muslim Brotherhood’s different branches used weapons targeting civilians, police forces and journalists on 28 March last year.
Protests had erupted in the Ain Shams district of Cairo which then turned violent. Ashraf, 22, was reportedly killed in clashes between protesters and security forces whilst covering the events.
The prosecution said 25 of the suspects confessed to joining the Muslim Brotherhood and the Anti-Coup Alliance, for the purposes of forming armed groups “targeting Christians and media people”.
The case had sparked the outrage of reporters, who feel constantly targeted and endangered whilst carrying out their job. Former Head of the Press Syndicate Diaa Rashwan attempted to convince new institutions to reconsider the status of young journalists and provide them with more protection and safety, but in vain.
As a result, the syndicate ordered bulletproof vests but journalists refused to wear them, claiming that they were going to become more obvious targets.
Newly elected president of the Press Syndicate Yehia Qallash honoured her Ashraf’s soul by awarding her family the Press Syndicate’s Shield on the anniversary of her death.
