Cairo Court of Appeals has set 20 February for the trial of 20 Al-Jazeera crew members, including an Australian, a Briton and a Dutchman, who are accused of incitement against Egypt by broadcasting false news.
Eight defendants are already detained while the other 12 are fugitives.
Many journalists, human rights groups and foreign governments have denounced the arrests as contradictory to the aims of a country in democratic transition.
The US State Department slammed the Egyptian government for the charges brought against the 20 journalists for “an egregious disregard” for basic rights and freedoms.
“Let me be clear that the United States places great value on a free press,” US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a sharply worded statement.
“The government's targeting of journalists and others on spurious claims is wrong and demonstrates an egregious disregard for the protection of basic rights and freedoms.”
Badr Abdel Aaty, spokesperson for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, rejected the US statement saying it was “unacceptable for any state or third party to interfere in the work of the Egyptian judiciary.”
He pointed out that the referral of a number of journalists to the criminal court was based on the decision of the public prosecution which is part of the Egyptian judicial system, and has full autonomy as its work is indepndent from the government.
“The Egyptian judiciary provides all the legal safeguards for defendants, the most important of which are fair trials and assigning lawyers to defend the defendants, as well as having several degrees of litigation so as the accused can challenge the ruling if convicted,” Abdel Aaty said.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
