Mail&Guardian

Al Jazeera journalists to be tried on World Press Freedom Day

Three journalists working for Al Jazeera’s English channel will appear in court on World Press Freedom Day. They are charged with aiding members of a “terrorist organisation”, with the Egyptian government saying they operated without proper accreditation.

The state prosecutor accused them of publishing lies and supplying equipment and money to Egyptian nationals who were allegedly members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood.

There have been allegations of torture, with some detained journalists saying they had been physically abused and not been treated for their wounds. A fourth Al Jazeera journalist, Abdullah Elshamy, has been on a hunger strike for 100 days. He was arrested in August, without trial. He will also appear on World Press Freedom Day, where the judge will decide to either extend his incarceration or release him.