Morsy Supporters Accused of Beatings

{{At least 49 men were beaten and detained for up to 17 hours allegedly by supporters of President Mohamed Morsy during deadly clashes near the presidential palace in Cairo on December 5, human rights activists say.}}

Despite allegations that these were paid thugs, the local prosecutor later released the 49 for lack of incriminating evidence.

While the men were still being questioned, President Morsy said in a televised speech that those arrested had confessed to being paid by “political powers” to instigate violence.

“The basic message that I wanted to hear from the president… is that torture, abuse, illegal detention is never justified,” said Heba Morayef, research and Egypt director at Human Rights Watch.

The organization said in a statement that the president spoke against the victims instead of condemning their unlawful detention.

Videos posted online showed men with bloodied and bruised faces held outside the gate of the presidential palace and told to confess to being paid.

Supporters of President Morsy that night said they were fighting paid thugs, citing “confessions” they had heard as evidence.