18 Aug 2009
Egyptian demonstrators have gathered in front of the German Embassy in Cairo to protest what they say are intentions to acquit Sherbini's murderer.

In a silent protest, the crowd condemned "the media silence in Germany over the killing of Marwa el-Sherbini," who was stabbed 18 times by a German man of Russian decent in a Dresden courtroom back in July.

The demonstrators demanded justice and punishment for the man responsible for the young woman's death, amid speculations that his lawyers may try to portray him as mentally impaired.

Sherbini's lawyer Khaled Abubakr, however, has vowed to take all possible measures to prevent such a scenario from unfolding.

Protesters believe that the German media's reluctance to dedicate adequate coverage to Sherbini's death point to efforts within the German government to free him.

"This rally, which is being held in protest against the German media's silence 40 days after Sherbini's death, shows that national concern over this issue will not fade away with time," said Nadiya Ata, head of the human rights group organizing the event.

She also called on Egyptian officials to make sure that justice is served and that people are informed about future legal proceedings of the case.

The three-month pregnant Marwa el-Sherbini was killed in early July while giving testimony against Axel W. in an appeal court, when the assailant attacked her in front of German police who failed to protect her against the assailant.

El-Sherbini's husband, Elvi Ali Okaz, tried to save his wife but was stopped short by the police who shot him the leg after apparently mistaking him for the attacker.

Alex W. had been found guilty and ordered to pay a fine at an earlier hearing for insulting and abusing Sherbini in November after calling her a “terrorist."

He was at court on that day because the prosecutors had appealed against the earlier punishment believing it to be insufficient in view of his verbal insults against the Egyptian.

El-Sherbini's death created outrage in Egypt and other parts of the Muslim world where protests have been held in condemnation of the hate crime.
presstv