It’s been dubbed the largest trial in the history of Egypt.
As a new wave of pro-Muslim Brotherhood protests takes hold in Cairo, more than 1,200 members of the Islamist group will stand trial this weekend. (Via PressTV)
According to Al Arabiya, the defendants are charged with inciting the violence during August protests held in support of ousted President Mohammed Morsi. (Via YouTube / Ibrahim Elmasry)
Among the defendants is Mohamed Badie, the spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. (Via Wikimedia Commons /Mohamedhph)
As for Morsi, he currently is on trial in three separate cases. He’s charged with inciting the killing of protesters, conspiracy to commit treason and fraud, and breaking out of jail during Egypt's 2011 uprising. (Via Clinton Global Initiative)
He was Egypt’s first-democratically elected president. Last summer, the country's army ousted him following several days of protests against this rule. (Via ABC)
Observers say this latest trial is part of a growing crackdown by the military-backed government on Morsi’s supporters in the Muslim Brotherhood.
In December, the interim government designated the Brotherhood a terrorist organization — a label that meant prison sentences for members. (Via The New York Times)
So far, 16,000 Islamists have been jailed in the past eight months. (Via Euronews)
Also jailed are three journalists working with Al Jazeera charged with spreading false news and aiding the Brotherhood. They've been imprisoned for more than two months, despite international calls for their release.
