nour trial twist

UPDATE:

BBC is now running a story on it. The defendant, Ayman Ismail, has admitted that the mukhabarat had pressured him into making a false confession by threatening the welfare of his family.

"Mr Ismail had admitted forging documents at Mr Nour's request.

The trial opened in chaos as supporters confronted riot police But he told the Cairo court that "security people threatened to hurt" his nephews if he did not confess.

"Anybody in my shoes would have done the same. I don't know what will happen to me now," he said."

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The Arabist (Charles is back!) is reporting that Hizb al-Ghad is sending text messages that seem to positively reinforce what we were saying yesterday (and everyone knows anyway.) One of the witnesses seems to have reversed his testimony, saying his previous confession was obtained under pressure. This should seriously undermine the state case... in theory.

Full text of SMS here.