On Thursday, Reuters said that three journalists of Al Jazeera had been detained and will stand on trial over allegations that they have aided members of a terrorist group. Their employer also said that Australian Peter Greste, Canadian-Egyptian national Mohamed Fahmy and local Baher Mohamed were arrested and jailed in Cairo on December 29 last year and are currently in custody.
A witness for Reuters said the three journalists arrived at the trial in metal cages, donning white prison outfits. Moreover, six other journalists of the Qatar-based television network are also being tried in absentia, the news agency said.
Egyptian officials have clarified that the case against the Al Jazeera journalists was not related in any way to freedom of expression and that the arrests and trial were based on suspicions as the journalists operated in the country without proper accreditation.
Deputy Middle East director Joe Stork at Human Rights Watch denounced Egypt's arrests and said, "Journalists should not have to risk years in an Egyptian prison for doing their job. The prosecution of these journalists for speaking with Muslim Brotherhood members, coming after the prosecution of protesters and academics, shows how fast the space for dissent in Egypt is evaporating."
A prosecutor said last month that Al Jazeera journalists had been publishing lies that harmed Egypt's national interest and provided resources to 16 Egyptians, including information, said Reuters. The journalists were also accused of using broadcasting equipment that were reportedly unlicensed.
An Egyptian court has postponed the case, of which Greste, Fahmy, Mohamed and 17 others stand trial, to March 5th. 16 of the group had been claimed by Egypt to be alleged members of the Muslim Brotherhood, who was responsible for the protests against the government since Islamist President Mohamed Mursi had been toppled by the army in July last year, Reuters said.
