An Egyptian military court has set 5 October for a final verdict in the trial of an Egyptian journalist who has been held for over a month on charges he spread false news about the army, judicial sources said.

Ahmed Abu-Deraa, who works for the daily Al-Masry Al-Youm and other independent media outlets, was arrested in North Sinai on 4 September for allegedly disseminating lies about the army's crackdown on militants in the Sinai Peninsula and trespassing in a military zone without a permit. 

The Egyptian Peninsula has seen an upsurge in militant insurgency targeting army and security personnel since the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi on 3 July. The military has mounted an extended assault to uproot Islamist militants in the region, killing dozens and capturing hundreds of others.

Deraa's case has heightened fears concerning attacks on freedom of speech in recent weeks.

Rights activists have condemned the increasing use of military trials against civilians since the ouster of Morsi.

Amnesty International deplored on Sunday Deraa's "unfair" trial and said he must be "immediately and unconditionally released."

“The decision by authorities to try a civilian journalist in a military court is a serious blow to press freedom and human rights in Egypt,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Military spokesman Ahmed Ali has recently defended the military trial against Deraa, saying the charges against Abu Deraa fall under the military's jurisdiction.

"Investigations reveal Abu Deraa spread lies that the Egyptian armed forces were attacking mosques, women and children. He deliberately propagated false news," Ali told reporters.