The Cairo Criminal court postponed the trial of former president Mohamed Mursi in which he is accused along with others of insulting the judiciary to July 2.
The case involves lawyers, journalists, activists and members of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood group.
The defence lawyer of media figure and one of the defendants Abdel Rahman Youssef requested judicial disqualification and requested time to implement the procedures of the disqualification.
According to the lawyer, the disqualification request was made as the court presiding over the case allegedly formed a preconceived opinion against the defendant.
The defendants involved are accused of insulting the judiciary by publication, in televised interviews and through online social media. It also accused the defendants of using hateful and contempt phrases against judicial authorities.
Mursi is accused in the case of insulting Judge Ali al-Nemr in a speech that dates back to Jun. 26 2013, during his tenure as president. Back then, Mursi accused al-Nemr of rigging the 2005 parliamentary elections. Investigation revealed that Mursi’s claims were not backed by facts.
Since his ouster, Mursi was featured in several trials where he faced an array of charges including espionage charges, inciting to kill protesters outside the presidential palace during his tenure, insulting the judiciary and escaping prison during the January 2011 Uprising.
Earlier this week, Mursi received a 40 year prison sentence in a case dubbed as “Qatar espionage case”. Morsi along with 10 others stood accused of leaking important national security documents and information on the Egyptian Armed Forces to Qatar during Mursi’s tenure.
Mursi was ousted by the military in July 2013 following mass protests against his rule.