‘You are heroes,’ Egyptian judge tells killers of January 25 protesters before acquitting them

An Egyptian judge offered apologies to officers accused of shooting protesters to death during the January 25 revolution.

Before announcing their acquittal, Judge Hassan Eissa told the officers: “you have been broken, so have we. You were victims. I would like to personally apologize to you for all the insults you were subjected to, because you are respectable people. I urge you to return to your jobs and protect us from the anarchists and terrorists.”

He adds: “If it were up to me, I would have never referred you to trial. You should know that you are not defendants… You are heroes. You defended the people and were victims of shivering hands that referred you to trials.”